Cleft Palate
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Overview
Plain-Language Overview
Cleft palate is a birth defect where the roof of the mouth does not fully close during early development, leaving an opening. This affects the oral cavity and can cause difficulties with feeding, speech, and increased risk of ear infections. The condition involves the soft and/or hard palate, which normally separates the mouth from the nasal passages. Because of this opening, food and liquids may pass into the nose, and speech sounds may be nasal or unclear. It is one of the most common congenital craniofacial abnormalities and can occur alone or with a cleft lip.
Clinical Definition
Cleft palate is a congenital malformation characterized by incomplete fusion of the palatal shelves during embryogenesis, resulting in a persistent communication between the oral and nasal cavities. The defect may involve the hard palate, soft palate, or both, and arises from failure of the palatal processes to fuse between the 6th and 12th weeks of gestation. It can occur as an isolated anomaly or as part of syndromes such as 22q11.2 deletion syndrome or Van der Woude syndrome. The condition leads to impaired feeding, speech articulation, and increased risk of otitis media due to eustachian tube dysfunction. Diagnosis is important for planning surgical repair and multidisciplinary management.