A craniofacial disorder
refers to an abnormality of the face and/or the head. Craniofacial differences can
result from abnormal growth patterns of the face or skull, which involves soft
tissue and bones. A craniofacial condition may include disfigurement brought about
by birth defect, disease or trauma.
A cleft lip is a separation
of the two sides of the lip. The separation often includes the bones of the upper
jaw and/or upper gum. A cleft palate is an opening in the roof of the mouth in which
the two sides of the palate did not fuse, or join together, as the unborn baby was
developing. Cleft lip and cleft palate can occur on one side (unilateral cleft lip
and/or palate) or on both sides (bilateral cleft lip and/or palate). Because the lip
and the palate develop separately, it is possible for the child to have a cleft lip,
a cleft palate, or both cleft lip and cleft palate.
Whether you are a new parent
or caregiver, a doting relative or a health care professional, this video will guide
you through the special techniques and bottles to help create an enjoyable,
satisfying and productive feeding experience for a baby with a cleft palate. Feeding
Your Baby includes step-by-step instructions for using a variety of special bottles
demonstrated by families who once had the same questions and concerns you may have
now. The video includes a frequently asked questions (FAQ) segment as well as
breastfeeding and cleft palate treatment team information.
For a complimentary
copy, please contact American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association (ACPA) by phone
or e-mail:
http://www.cleftline.org/parents-individuals/feeding-your-baby/
Children born with cleft
lip, cleft palate and/or other craniofacial differences may require individualized
treatment into adulthood. Their care is best managed when a team of specialists
works with the family to develop and follow a treatment plan.
To ensure comprehensive,
quality, medical care, Children’s Craniofacial Association (CCA) has opted to link
to the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association’s list of ACPA Approved Teams.
ACPA Approved Teams are the teams that the ACPA encourages patients and families to
consider first for cleft and craniofacial healthcare needs. CCA recognizes the
quality of the ACPA Team Approval process and encourages CCA families to also
consider first using an ACPA Approved Team. You can use the ACPA website to search
for teams in your state, region, or by your address. Contact information is linked
there.
Please take special care to note if the team is approved for Cleft Palate
Team (CPT) and/or Craniofacial Team (CFT) when searching their listings. The website
also includes information about the ACPA Team Approval process.
CCA envisions a world where
all people are accepted for who they are, not how they look. To support this vision,
they are encouraging educators and parents to incorporate CCA’s #ChooseKind
Initiative during the child/student’s developing year.
Wonder is the story of Auggie, who, after
being home schooled, enters the 5th grade of a regular school. Though he’s had 27
surgeries, Auggie’s features still “look like they’ve been melted, like the
drippings of a candle”, earning him nicknames like “Freak” and “Lizard Face”.
Despite his physical ailments, Auggie’s an engaging boy who’s smart, funny, kind and
brave, and who feels pretty normal inside. Palacio intersperses Auggie’s
first-person narrative with the voices of family members and classmates, wisely
expanding the story beyond Auggie’s viewpoint and demonstrating that Auggie’s
arrival at school doesn’t just test him, it affects everyone in the community.
