Cleft Palate

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• 1 Cleft lip
• 2 Cleft palate
• 3 Prevalence among racial groups
• 4 Causes of cleft
• 5 Treatment
• 6 Craniofacial team
• 7 Velopharyngeal insufficiency
• 8 Complications
• 9 Psychosocial issues
• 10 Controversy
• 11 Famous people with a cleft

Cleft lip

If only skin tissue is affected one speaks of cleft lip.

Cleft lip is formed in the upper lip as either a small gap or dent in the lip (partial or incomplete cleft) or continues into the nose (complete cleft). Lip cleft can occur as one sided (unilateral) or two sided (bilateral). It is due to the failure of fusion of the maxillary and medial nasal processes (formation of the primary palate).

Cleft palate

Cleft palate is a condition in which the two plates of the skull that form the hard palate (roof of the mouth) are not completely joined. The soft palate is in these cases cleft as well. In most cases, cleft lip is also present.

Palate cleft can occur as complete (soft and hard palate, possibly including a gap in the jaw) or incomplete (a 'hole' in the roof of the mouth, usually as a cleft soft palate). When cleft palate occurs, the uvula is usually split. It occurs due to the failure of fusion of the lateral palatine processes, the nasal septum, and/or the median palatine processes (formation of the secondary palate).

Prevalence rates reported for live births for Cleft lip with or without Cleft Palate (CL +/- P) and Cleft Palate alone (CPO) varies within different racial groups.

The highest prevalence rates for (CL +/- P) are reported for Native Americans and Asians. African-Americans have the lowest prevalence rates.^{[citation needed]}

• Native Americans: 3.74/1000
• Japanese: 0.82/1000 to 3.36/1000
• Chinese: 1.45/1000 to 4.04/1000
• Caucasians: 1.43/1000 to 1.86/1000
• Latin Americans: 1.04/1000
• African-Americans: 0.18/1000 to 1.67/1000

Rate of occurrence of CPO is similar for Caucasians, African-Americans, North American Indians and Asians.

Prevalence of “cleft uvula” has varied from .02% to 18.8% with the highest numbers found among Chippewa and Navajo Indians and the lowest generally in African-Americans.^{[citation needed]}

Causes of cleft

During the first six to eight weeks of pregnancy, the shape of the embryo's head is formed. Five tissues grow: one from the back of the neck over the top of the head down towards the upper lip; two from the cheeks, which meet the first layer to form the upper lip; and two from each side, which form the chin and lower lip. If these tissues fail to meet, a gap appears where the tissues should have joined.

The cause of cleft lip and cleft palate formation can be genetic in nature. A specific gene that increases three-fold the occurrence of these deformities has been identified in 2004 as reported by the BBC.[1]

Environmental influences may also cause, or interact with genetics, to produce orofacial clefting. Scientists have investigated seasonal causes (such as pesticide exposure); maternal diet and vitamin intake; retinoids, which are members of the vitamin A family; anticonvulsant drugs; alcohol; cigarette use; nitrate compounds; organic solvents; parental exposure to lead; and illegal drugs (cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin, etc.) as teratogens that increase the possibility of clefting.

If a person is born with a cleft, the chances of that person having a child with a cleft, given no other obvious factor, rises to 1 in 14 (instead of 1 in 700). Research continues to investigate the extent to which Folic acid can reduce the incidence of clefting.

Clefting seems to be at least in part related to ethnicity, occurring most often among Asians, Latinos and Native Americans (1 in 500), next most often among persons of European ethnicity (1 in 700) and least often among persons of African ethnicity (1 in 1000).

In some cases, cleft palate is caused by syndromes which also cause other problems. Stickler's Syndrome can cause cleft lip and palate, joint pain, and myopia. Loeys-Dietz syndrome can cause cleft palate or bifid uvula, hypertelorism, and aortic aneurysm. Many clefts run in families, even though there does not seem to be any identifiable syndrome present.

Treatment

Within the first 2-3 months after birth, surgery is performed to close the cleft lip. While surgery to repair a cleft lip can be performed soon after birth, the oft preferred age is at approximately 10 weeks of age, following the "rule of 10s" coined by surgeons Wilhelmmesen and Musgrave in 1969 (the child is at least 10 weeks of age; weighs at least 10 pounds, and has at least 10 g hemoglobin). If the cleft is bilateral and extensive, two surgeries may be required to close the cleft, one side first, and the second side a few weeks later.

Often an incomplete cleft lip requires the same surgery as complete cleft. This is done for two reasons. Firstly the group of muscles required to purse your lips run through the upper lip. In order to restore the complete group a full incision must be made. Secondly, to create a less obvious scar the surgeon tries to line up the scar with the natural lines in the upper lip (such as the edges of the philtrum) and tuck away stitches as far up the nose as possible. Incomplete cleft gives the surgeon more tissue to work with, creating a more supple and natural-looking upper lip.

Often a cleft palate is temporary closed using a palatal obturator. The obturator is a prosthetic device made to fit the roof of the mouth covering the gap.

Cleft palate can also be corrected by surgery, usually performed between 9 and 18 months. Approximately 20-25% only require one palatal surgery to achieve a competent velopharyngeal valve capable of producing normal, non-hypernasal speech. However, combinations of surgical methods and repeated surgeries are often necessary as the child grows. One of the new innovations of cleft lip and cleft palate repair is the Latham appliance. The Latham is surgically inserted by use of pins during the child's 4th or 5th month. After it is in place, the doctor, or parents, turn a screw daily to bring the cleft together to assist with future lip and/or palate repair.

If the cleft extends into the maxillary alveolar ridge, the gap is usually corrected by filling the gap with bone tissue. The bone tissue can be acquired from the patient's own chin, rib or hip.

Speech problems are usually treated by a speech therapist. In some cases pharyngeal flap surgery is performed to regulate the airflow during speech and reduce nasal sounds.

Most children with a form of clefting are monitored by a cleft palate or craniofacial team through young adulthood. Care can be lifelong.

Note that treatment procedures can vary between craniofacial teams. For example, some teams wait on jaw correction until the child is aged 10 to 12 (argument: growth is less influential as deciduous teeth are replaced by permanent teeth, thus saving the child from repeated corrective surgeries), while other teams correct the jaw earlier (argument: less speech therapy is needed than at a later age when speech therapy becomes harder). Within teams treatment can differ from each individual case depending on the type and severity of the cleft.

Craniofacial team

Cleft lip+/- palate is a congenital disorder of the craniofacial complex that occurs early during pregnancy and is present at birth. A cleft palate occurs when the shelves of the palate fail to meet or fuse, resulting in an opening in the roof of the mouth. A cleft lip occurs when the two sides of the lip are separated including the gum and or the upper jaw (http://www.cleftline.org/aboutclp/). Cleft lip+/- palate may affect early feeding, speech , dentition, hearing, velopharyngeal function and psychosocial development. Due to the multifaceted nature of this disorder, a timely coordinated approach by an interdisciplinary cleft palate or craniofacial team is essential to the management and care of this population. According to the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association (ACPA), a cleft palate team provides assessment and treatment for cleft lip +/- palate only, while a craniofacial team provides assessment and treatment for craniofacial anomalies and associated syndromes (Strauss et al., 1998). The minimal requirement for a cleft palate team is a surgeon (see below), an orthodontist, and a speech-language pathologist (Strauss et al., 1998). Involvement of other professionals such as audiologists, psychologists (or other mental health professionals), otolaryngologists, pediatric and general dentists, audiologists, pediatricians, geneticists, social workers, pediatric nurse practitioners; radiologists, and otolaryngologists is not uncommon. Most children with a cleft palate evidence early, and usually treatable middle ear disease (otitis media).

The Surgeon, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon or a plastic and reconstructive surgeon, is critical member of the cleft palate team. Their role is to create a functional lip and palate that appears as normal as possible and provides support for the lip and base of the nose. This may, in some cases, require more than one surgery, including initial closure of the lip, initial closure of the palate, lip and nose revision, alveolar bone grafting, and if necessary, closure of oronasal fistula, and/or further palatal or pharyngeal surgery to eliminate hypernasal speech (Peterson-Falzone, Hardin-Jones, Karnell, 2001). Orthognathic Surgery to align the upper and lower jaws may also be performed when the child is in their teens. The timing of these surgeries range from birth to the teenage years, and is based upon discussions with the orthodontist and surgeon.

The Orthodontist, whose specialty is the growth and development of the craniofacial complex, is one of the first cleft palate team members the family may encounter. The orthodontist’s evaluation of the newborn will help determine the timing of required surgeries as the child develops.

The Speech-Language Pathologist is also an essential member of the cleft palate team. Children with cleft palate often have delayed speech and language development. The speech-language pathologist will be involved in parent education, newborn feeding instruction, and evaluation and treatment of speech, language, voice and resonance disorders.

The evaluation and treatment of a child with cleft lip +/- palate requires ongoing services from a team of various professionals in a coordinated timely manner. Successful rehabilitation of the child is dependent on continued care by these professionals. Note that not all children with orofacial anomalies will require the care of a cleft palate team. For example, some children with submucous, or occult clefts of the palate, who do not have an impairment of speech/hearing may not need this service.

Velopharyngeal insufficiency

Velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) is defined as the failure to close the velopharyngeal sphincter, resulting in an inability to adequately separate the nasal cavity from the oral cavity(Armour et al., 2005) When there is a pharyngeal gap in the velopharyngeal sphincter during speech, air leaks into the nasal cavity resulting in a hypernasal voice resonance and nasal emissions (Sloan, 2000) Secondary effects of VPI include speech articulation errors (e.g., distortions, substitutions, and omissions) and compensatory misarticulations (e.g., glottal stops and posterior nasal fricatives) (Hill, 2001). VPI is most commonly caused by a cleft of the secondary palate, but other causes may include: submucous clefts, neuromuscular abnormalities, and congenital VPI of unknown cause (Sloan, 2000). Additionally, approximately 20-30% of patients develop VPI post primary palatoplasty (Heliovaara et al., 2003). Possible treatment options include speech therapy, prosthetics, augmentation of the posterior pharyngeal wall, lengthening of the palate, and surgical procedures (Sloan, 2000).

Complications

Cleft may cause problems with feeding (see also Haberman Feeder), ear disease, and speech. Some of the primary and permanent teeth may also be missing. When the lip is cleft, the person may face social stigma within their own environment. This socialized stigma, however, generally depends on the severity of the abnormality, and the outward appearance of the person.

Psychosocial issues

A cleft palate may impact an individual’s self-esteem, social skills, and behavior. There is a large amount of research dedicated to the psychosocial development of individuals with cleft palate. Self-concept may be adversely affected by the presence of a cleft palate. Research has shown that during the early preschool years (ages 3-5), children with cleft palate tend to have a self-concept that is similar to their peers without a cleft. However, as they grow older and their social interactions with other children increase, children with clefts tend to report more dissatisfaction with peer relationships and higher levels of social anxiety. Experts conclude that this is probably due to the associated stigma of visible deformities and speech abnormalities, if present. Children who are judged as attractive tend to be perceived as more intelligent, exhibit more positive social behaviors, and are treated more positively than children with cleft palate (Tobiasen, 1984). Children with clefts tend to report feelings of anger, sadness, fear, and alienation from their peers. Yet these children were similar to their peers in regard to “how well they liked themselves.”

The relationship between parental attitudes and a child’s self-concept is crucial during the preschool years. It has been reported that elevated stress levels in mothers correlated with reduced social skills in their children (Pope & Ward, 1997). Strong parent support networks may help to prevent the development of negative self-concept in children with cleft palate. In the later preschool and early elementary years, the development of social skills is no longer only impacted by parental attitudes but is beginning to be shaped by their peers. A cleft palate may affect the behavior of preschoolers. Experts suggest that parents discuss with their children ways to handle negative social situations related to their cleft palate. A child who is entering school should learn the proper (and age-appropriate) terms related to the cleft. The ability to confidently explain the condition to others may limit feelings of awkwardness and embarrassment and reduce negative social experiences [2].

As children reach adolescence, the period of time between age 13 and 19, the dynamics of the parent-child relationship change as peer groups are now the focus of attention. An adolescent with cleft palate will deal with the typical challenges faced by most of their peers including issues related to self esteem, dating, and social acceptance (Snyder, Bilboul, & Pope, 2005; Endriga & Kapp-Simon, 1999; Pope & Snyder, 2004). Adolescents, however, view appearance as the most important characteristic above intelligence and humor (Prokhorov et al., 1993). This being the case, adolescents are susceptible to additional problems because they cannot hide their facial differences from their peers. Males typically deal with issues relating to withdrawal, attention, thought, and internalizing problems and may possibly develop anxiousness-depression and aggressive behaviors (Pope & Snyder, 2004). Females are more likely to develop problems relating to self concept and appearance. Individuals with cleft palate often deal with threats to their Quality of Life for multiple reasons including: unsuccessful social relationships, deviance in social appearance, and multiple surgeries. Individuals with cleft palate often have lower QOL scores than their peers. Psychosocial functioning of individuals with cleft palate often improves after surgery, but does not last due to unrealistic expectations of surgery.

Having a cleft palate does not inevitably lead to a psychosocial problem. However, it is important to remember that adolescents with cleft palate are at an elevated risk for developing psychosocial problems especially those relating to self concept, peer relationships, and appearance. It is important for parents to be aware of the psychosocial challenges their adolescents may face and to know where to turn if problems arise.

The links below are a source of information regarding parent support networks and social development of children with cleft palate.

Controversy

In some countries cleft lip or palate deformities are considered reasons (either generally tolerated or officially sanctioned) to perform abortion beyond the legal fetal age limit, even though the fetus is not in jeopardy of life or limb. Some human rights activists contend this practice of "cosmetic murder" amounts to Nazi eugenics. A London clergywoman, who suffered from a congenital jaw deformity herself (not a cleft lip or palate as is sometimes reported), has started legal action to stop the practice in the UK as reported by CNN[3] and the BBC [4].

Famous people with a cleft

• Tom Brokaw
• Carmit Bachar
• E. Charlton Fortune
• Jürgen Habermas
• Wendy Harmer
• Michael Helm
• Doc Holliday
• Jesse Jackson
• Stacy Keach
• Thomas Malthus
• Peyton Manning
• Cheech Marin
• Rita MacNeil
• Jason Robards
• Nikki Payne
• Eric Edgar Cooke
• Mark Hamill
• Richard Hawley
• Pharaoh Tutankhamun (possibly) [5]
• President Abraham Lincoln's son Thomas Lincoln [6]

It is a popular belief Joaquin Phoenix has a cleft lip. The mark on his lip is a microform, an almost cleft that healed itself in utero. If the tissues joined up just enough to create correct bone and muscle tissues, no corrective surgery is required, as is the case with Joaquin Phoenix.