Common consequences of cleft include feeding problems. The cleft lip makes it difficult for the children to drink, and the cleft palate can mean trouble swallowing or even food coming back out of the nose. Many children become sickly and some even die because they cannot drink enough to keep them healthy and growing.
Due to their special appearance and superstitions among the society such as that cleft is the punishment for a sin, many cleft children suffer from social isolation and do not enjoy going to school. Also, clefts usually result in severe problems with speaking, and, since patients with cleft palate often have ear infections, also with hearing. This means that cleft children can have trouble doing many everyday activities.
The good news is that cleft can be treated very well!
