PURPOSE: To investigate the prevalence of submucous cleft palate associated with cleft lip, and its correlation with gender, type of cleft lip, signs and symptoms. METHODS: Study based on the data of 132 consecutive patients with cleft lip at a specialized cleft lip and palate center, of both genders, collected by the same speech-language pathologist during the patients' first consultation at the center. Palpation of the hard palate, visual assessment of the soft palate and uvula, and an interview with patients or their parents regarding the presence of associated symptoms were performed. RESULTS: From the total sample, most patients were male and had left-sided cleft lip. Eleven percent of the cases presented signs of submucous cleft palate. Among them, nasal reflux was found in some cases (21%), history of otitis in half of the subjects, and none of them presented speech with hypernasality signs. CONCLUSION: Eleven percent of the patients with cleft lip presented signs of submucous cleft palate, with higher prevalence in males and in left-sided cleft lip.
Cleft lip; Cleft palate; Cleft palate; Cleft palate; Congenital abnormalities; Signs and symptoms
