Cleft lip and cleft palate are splits, or gap in the upperlip and the roof of the mouth (palate) or both that occur while the baby is still inside her mother’s womb. Kids with a cleft lip also can have a cleft palate.

Children with cleft lip or cleft palate face problems such as-

• Cleft palate may make breast feeding difficult
• Delay in speaking, difficulty in speaking clearly
• Dental abnormalities
• Ear infections or loss of hearing
• Heavy fall with stretching of neck
• Industrial trauma – weight falling on shoulder from a height or being dragged
  inside a machine by the arm
• Altered growth of facial skeleton

A surgery at the right time along with speech theraphy and dental care will enable the child to restore his/her normal speech, language, hearing, and lead a health life with minimum scarring. Cleft lip repair surgery will give symmetrical facial features and the child will not suffer
or feel different from other children when he/she enters the school. The child will also be able to speak, breathe and eat better than they could before the surgery.