As with any child you are going to worry about their development, but especially so when your child is already facing challenges due to their being cleft affected. Your child’s hearing is going to be another ongoing aspect of care you are going to need to be diligent about, which is why an ENT is an integral part of your Cleft Palate Team. Our son showed signs of hearing loss as early as 2 mos. of age when we first…
Our son needed to be 3 mos. of age, minimum 10 lbs. and have no sign of a cold or infection in order to continue with the scheduled cleft lip repair surgery. These first three months were exhausting, as they are with any new parent but especially so with an infant that has special needs. We kept our little one healthy and with doctors visits weekly to both his pediatrician and Cleft Care Team it was definitely hard to keep…
The Cleft Palate Team you choose will become an extension of your family. You must feel comfortable with your extended family, be able to communicate effectively regarding the care and treatment of your child, express your desires with regards to your child’s healthcare and know that your child is in the hands of people who truly care. There are several different members that will make up your Cleft Palate Team. Plastic surgeon Pediatrician Speech pathologist Audiologist (hearing specialist) Nurse Social…
The first thing you must understand is that you are going to experience an ear infection with your cleft baby. There is a reason for this. Please click on the link and you will be redirected to the Cleft Palate Foundation’s booklet that explains in depth why cleft babies are more prone to ear infections. The first time I noticed something was not right with our little guy’s hearing he was approximately eight weeks old. I had finished feeding him…
My son has been suffering from ear infections since birth at this point and each year his body would force his PE tubes out and another ear infection would set in. We would go through the motions of making yet another appointment with his pediatrician, and get a prescription for antibiotics that initially would work. As the years went by though he continued to need a stronger antibiotic each time. The last time his ear infection became so bad…
