Cleft Lip & Palate: The Role of the SLP

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to cleft lip and palate, their causes, management, and implications for speech and language professionals.

Cleft Lip and Palate

A craniofacial condition resulting from an interruption in embryologic growth between the 4th and 10th week of development.

Congenital Abnormality

Birth defects that occur due to developmental issues, cleft lip and palate being the most common with approximately 7,000 annual cases.

Unilateral vs. Bilateral Clefts

Unilateral clefts affect one side while bilateral clefts affect both sides of the lip or palate.

Genetic Inheritance

A cause of clefts in 25% of cases, indicating that there may be a hereditary component to this condition.

Overt Palatal Cleft

A type of cleft palate that is visibly open and can be observed during an intraoral inspection.

Submucous Cleft Palate (SMCP)

A type of cleft where the oral mucosa is intact but the underlying muscles have failed to attach.

Feeding Difficulties

Challenges faced by babies with cleft palate that can result in poor weight gain and other health issues.

Otitis Media

Ear infections commonly associated with cleft conditions, leading to potential hearing loss.

Velopharyngeal Dysfunction

Inability of the soft palate to close off the nasal cavity, causing speech issues like hypernasality.

Resonance Issues

Problems with the quality of voice caused by improper balance of sound vibration in speaking.

Surgical Procedures for Clefts

Typically include lip repair around 3 months and palate repair between 9-15 months to improve feeding and speech.

Prosthetic Device - Palatal Obturator

An orthodontic device used to close off the space behind the soft palate to help with speech.