How often are babies born with a cleft lip or cleft palate?
In the US a cleft lip and/or a cleft palate occurs in about 1 in every 700 births. In developing countries such as Ecuador the rate of clefting is estimated to be as high as 1 in every 350 births. The exact rate varies among different geographic areas and ethnic groups. Is a cleft lip or a cleft palate strictly a cosmetic deformity? No, people who suffer from a cleft lip or a cleft palate often have a difficult time eating. In developing nations this often causes issues with proper nutrition. Babies are often malnourished because they find it difficult to nurse. In the US patients work with specialists to help them adapt until their cleft can be repaired. People with clefts often develop dental problems as well as ear disease. It is also common to have problems with proper speech development. To address these issues families in developed nations will often work with a team of specialists that will likely include a pediatrician, dentist, plastic surgeon, otolaryngologist, speech therapi
