Cleft palate

Problems with breastfeeding and feeding

Newborns with a cleft palate may have difficulty breastfeeding or bottle-feeding. The cleft can make it difficult to create the vacuum needed for successful feeding, which can result in reduced food and fluid intake.

Possible swallowing difficulties

People with a cleft palate may experience difficulty swallowing food, especially if other problems with the structural development of the oral cavity or pharynx are also present.

Speech development

A cleft palate can significantly affect speech development. Problems may occur with the pronunciation of sounds, especially those that require normal soft palate function (e.g., the sounds "k," "g," "h," "n").

Sound patterns

Children with cleft palates may have unique speech sound patterns, such as nasality, which occurs when air passes through the nose instead of the mouth when making certain sounds. This problem may require speech therapy interventions to improve articulation and clarity of speech.

Speech therapy

Most children with cleft palates use speech therapy to improve their speech skills. These therapies may include exercises to strengthen the muscles of the mouth and improve airflow control.