THE CLEFT PALATE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 69, 1 May 1945, Page 2

THE CLEFT PALATE

(By the Department of Health) In babies aonormalities occur quite frequently. Some folk believe they're caused ■by 1 rights or accidents- in the ante-natal period. While this ij'n't true, the real cause is unknown. Cross malformations seem to happen from germ cell upset before. fertilisation. Heredity has something to do with it. Quite a common abnormality is hare lip and cleft palate. While the father and mother are not directly to blame for this mishap, they would lie culpable if they let the. proper lime for correction pass bv. And that is very early! Overseas it is common to lix a hare lip during the first month, of life and to fix up a cleft palate between 18 months and 2 years of age. Here in New Zealand we have our own specialists, some of whom, prefer to fix the cleft palate up first commencing operative treatment at between two or three months of age. When the palate is completely closed the linal job of lip closure is done. Time, then is most important with hare lip 'and cleft palate. Parents with such a baby should consult their surgeon or base hospital j immediately. Arrangements are possible by which surgeons or base hospitals- can put parents in touch with the proper specialist treatment if they can't provide it themselves. The aim with cleft palate children is to get them cured as early as possible so that there'll be little dictortion of speech to contend with. Once the disability is- finally overcome bony palate joined and soft palate complete speech training in very simple form and palate exercises will be beneficial. The parents may need the help of a speech clinic. From start to finish cleft palate requires specifist help—the parents' task is to seek this early enough to get full benefit.