Cleft Lip Early

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Anchor lead: Diagnosing cleft lip and palate using ultrasound has advantages, Elizabeth Tracey reports

Cleft lip and/or palate is very common, occurring in about one in 700 to one in a thousand babies born with condition in the US each year. Jordan Steinberg, a plastic surgeon at Johns Hopkins who specializes in treating these children, says early identification helps.

Steinberg: Today we have very good success even at the screening 20 week ultrasound for pregnant moms, if a cleft lip and/or palate is identified we try to set them with a visit right around that time period with our team to help get some information about what may be ahead. Many families really benefit from that experience because of the preparedness that they can gain prior to the birth of their child. Some of the things that we concentrate on are feeding, we will meet with the orthodontist, then we transition into a discussion about what are the major surgical milestones during that first year of life.  :35

Steinberg says the team at Hopkins takes a comprehensive approach to treatment since the condition impacts many aspects of life, such as feeding and speech. I’m Elizabeth Tracey.