Accurate tests to assess hearing and recommend care.
Helping children and adults speak clearly and confidently.
Digital hearing aids fitted for your lifestyle and hearing loss.
From evaluation to AVT, we’re with you at every step.
Advanced hearing implant solutions for better clarity.
Consult online from the comfort of your home.
Accurate tests to assess hearing and recommend care.
Helping children and adults speak clearly and confidently.
Digital hearing aids fitted for your lifestyle and hearing loss.
From evaluation to AVT, we’re with you at every step.
Advanced hearing implant solutions for better clarity.
Consult online from the comfort of your home.
A cleft is an abnormal opening or a fissure in an anatomical structure that is normally closed. A cleft of the lip and/or palate is a congenital malformation that occurs in utero during the first trimester of pregnancy. Because a cleft is due to a disruption in embryological development, clefts typically follow the normal embryological fusion lines. The interference in embryological development of the midface and oral cavity is often associated with malformations of the nose, eyes, and other facial structures as well. When other congenital anomalies occur along with the cleft lip and palate, they usually have a genetic etiology and are part of a multiple malformation syndrome. Clefts can vary in length and in width, depending on the degree of fusion of the individual parts.
A cleft lip is a split or separation that occurs between the fourth and seventh week of pregnancy, wherein the developing tissues of the baby’s lip don’t join completely. A cleft of the lip may be complete or incomplete and involves either one side (unilateral) or both sides (bilateral).
A cleft palate involves some or all of the soft palate and may extend into the hard palate up to the back of the alveolus. Occasionally some children may have a split (bifid) uvula; a condition where the muscles beneath the lining of the mouth and nose (mucosa) are not joined (submucous cleft palate). Cleft palate occurs when the roof of the mouth does not completely close, leaving an opening that can extend into the nasal cavity. The cleft may involve either side of the palate. It can extend from the front of the mouth (hard palate) to the throat (soft palate). Often the cleft will also include the lip. Cleft palate is not as noticeable as cleft lip because it is inside the mouth. It may be the only abnormality in the child, or it may be associated with cleft lip or other syndromes. In many cases, other family members have also had a cleft palate at birth.
The upper gum (alveolus) and nose may be affected by this type of cleft. A cleft can occur on one side of the lip, both and occasionally in the middle. In more severe cases, the opening of the lip can expand into the nose. Some infants with a cleft lip also have openings in their palates, but a cleft lip can occur without this additional defect. Although cleft lips are always noticeable at birth, it can be seen in an ultrasound while in the womb as well. Whenever a cleft is diagnosed, however, doctors immediately coordinate the baby’s care with a team of medical and dental professionals who specialize in treating this type of birth defect. One or two surgeries may be needed to repair a child’s cleft lip, and these are usually done before the child’s first birthday.
ARTICULATION
VELOPHARYNGEAL DYSFUNCTION (VPD)
NASAL AIR EMISSION
HYPERNASALITY
VOCAL HYPERFUNCTION
FEEDING AND SWALLOWING
HEARING LOSS
DENTAL DEVIATION AND MALOCCLUSIONS
ARTICULATION: A child with a cleft lip may have typical articulation. Those with cleft palates or submucous palates are much more likely to need articulation intervention. Common speech sound errors include glottal stops, nasal fricatives, pharyngeal fricatives, and mid-dorsum palatal stops. Oral movement may be affected, such as reduced lip rounding or tongue elevation. Be sure to differentiate between the speech sound errors: obligatory, compensatory, or developmental. VELOPHARYNGEAL DYSFUNCTION (VPD): A generic term for resonance disorders. VPD occurs when the velopharyngeal port does not have proper closure during speech or swallowing. Air leaks into the nasal passage due to the soft palate’s inadequate speed or range of function. This can result in nasal air emission, hypernasality, abnormal speech, and decreased intelligibility. All children with a cleft palate will demonstrate VPD prior to cleft repair. NASAL AIR EMISSION: The audible release of bursts of air through the nose during speech. HYPERNASALITY: A condition when air flows through the nasal passage during voiced consonants and vowels, causing too much nasal resonance. VOCAL HYPERFUNCTION: A chronic condition when the glottis is overworked resulting in a strained voice, fatigue, or pain. FEEDING AND SWALLOWING: Children with an isolated cleft lip can use a typical bottle or may be able to breastfeed. Children with a cleft palate oftentimes cannot breastfeed and use a specialty feeder, such as the Dr. Browns Specialty Feeder or Haberman bottle. These bottles don’t require the baby to produce suction and you can pace a baby with the Haberman bottle. HEARING LOSS: Children with cleft palate are more likely to get fluid in the middle ear and ear infections. This can cause mild to moderate hearing loss. Eustachian tube dysfunction is common and present in over 90% of infants with cleft palates and leads to middle ear changes responsible for permanent hearing loss in adulthood. Some syndromes related to cleft palates have hearing loss associated with them, such as Stickler syndrome. Hearing loss is present in more than 50% of the adult cleft palate population. Those hard of hearing have a tendency to remain more hypernasal. DENTAL DEVIATION AND MALOCCLUSIONS: Children with a cleft palate or lip are more likely to have dental abnormalities. This may include an overbite, underbite, crossbite, extra teeth, missing teeth, and teeth out of alignment. If the alveolar ridge is affected by a cleft, the teeth may be displaced or rotated. These dental differences may affect speech production.
At Vedanta Speech and Hearing Healthcare, specialized care for individuals with cleft lip and palate focuses on both speech-language and audiological support to promote optimal communication development.
Children with cleft palate often face challenges such as speech articulation errors, hypernasality, and delayed language due to structural abnormalities and frequent ear infections.
Vedanta's speech-language pathologists provide early intervention, articulation therapy, and resonance management to help children develop clear, functional speech.
Simultaneously, their audiologists monitor and manage hearing issues like conductive hearing loss caused by Eustachian tube dysfunction, offering solutions such as regular hearing screenings, medical referrals, and ear tube recommendations when necessary.
By offering an integrated, team-based approach, Vedanta ensures that children with cleft conditions receive comprehensive, personalized care that supports their speech, language, and hearing development for a better quality of life.
If your child is struggling with a cleft orthat is impacting their speech and daily life, don’t hesitate to contact Therapy Care today to consult with one of our Vedanta Speech and Hearing Healthcare
The good news when it comes to a speech disorder is that the earlier your child begins speech therapy, the better the long-term results can be. Call us today to get started!
Don’t Wonder If You Or Your Loved Ones Have Hearing Loss Or Speech Disorder; Find Out For Sure With Advanced Tests. Vedanta Speech And Hearing Healthcare Is Ready To Help You Or Your Loved One To Live Better. It All Starts With An Honest Conversation About Your Hearing Loss or Speech Disorder And a Test.
Vedanta Speech and Hearing Healthcare
# Number 6/1, MC Office Road, Punjabi Mohalla, Ambala Cantt # SCO 109, 1st Floor, Sector 40-C, Chandigarh Other Healthcare Centers also available at Ambala City, Chandigarh (Tricity), Jammu, Roorkee
91-7060360346 | +91-7347347718, Monday – Saturday | 10:00 am to 7:00 pm
