Treatment
Find information about cleft lip and palate treatment in the UK, including top tips from our community.
Find information on cleft and COVID-19 on our hub
In this section you’ll find all of CLAPA’s most up-to-date information about cleft treatment in the UK.
Topics and treatments are divided up according to age ranges. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, you can search our site, or get in touch to let us know.
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Treatment Timeline
An overview of what to expect and what's available from CLAPA and the NHS, from diagnosis right through to adulthood.
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Photo Gallery
Browse hundreds of photos of babies, children and adults at all stages of treatment.
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Diagnosis & Birth
What does a cleft diagnosis mean and what happens next?
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Feeding
Information on how a cleft can affect feeding, and what you can do to help.
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Repair Surgery
Tips and advice from other parents on coping with your child's first surgery.
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Early Years (1-4)
Information on hearing, speech and dental health as your child grows up.
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School Years (5-12)
Helping your child succeed in school and beyond, including coping with the Alveolar Bone Graft.
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Teenagers
Information and advice for teenagers born with a cleft about coping with a cleft and treatment, including orthodontics and jaw surgery.
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Adults
Help for adults looking to get back into treatment, including what's available on the NHS and where to find further support.
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Research
The past decade has seen a huge increase in research projects around cleft lip and palate. Find out about recent breakthroughs and how to get involved here.
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What is a Cleft?
A basic overview of cleft lip and palate.
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What Causes a Cleft?
There's no single cause of cleft, but this page gives more information on contributing factors and statistics.
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Pierre Robin Sequence
Around 50 babies are born with PRS each year in the UK, and most will have a cleft palate.
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Other Syndromes
Around 15-30% of the time, a cleft is caused by a syndrome which may have other symptoms, such as Stickler, DiGeorge and PRS.
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NHS Cleft Teams
Find out more about the NHS Cleft Teams and get details of your local hospital or clinic.
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Videos
Check out our selection of videos covering everything from diagnosis to adult surgery.
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Your Stories
Read stories and interviews from parents, teenagers and adults affected by cleft lip and palate.
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Other Resources
Links to other organisations and resources you may find helpful.
