After your child has a palate repair surgery, most people would think that they are out of the woods and nothing else will have to be done. Unfortunately, approximately 15-25% of children born with a cleft palate will develop Velopharyngeal dysfunction (VPD). Our birth defects attorneys think that parents should be informed about the possibilities that may affect their child, and be able to react in a well-informed manner.
What is Velopharyngeal dysfunction?
Velopharyngeal dysfunction occurs when the open space between the back wall of the throat and the soft palate cannot be properly closed during speech. Unfortunately, this results in an unwanted escape of air or sound through the nose during speech. Essentially, this dysfunction may result in what is called hyper-nasal speech. The sounds that create speech come from both the nose and the mouth. When we speak, the majority of those sounds should come from the mouth alone. Closing the velopharyngeal space allows people to build pressure in the mouth and make the appropriate speech sounds. When a VPD is present, air comes through the nose that should not, and speech becomes too nasal.
In many cases, after surgery has been completed, or if surgery is not going to be undertaken, there are other options that can be explore. There are appliances that your doctor may recommend that can help alleviate these issues and eliminate the hyper-nasal speech problem.
Birth Defects Attorneys in New Jersey and Philadelphia
Giving birth to a child with a cleft lip or cleft palate begs the question,”Do I need the assistance of birth defects attorneys?” They are necessary when a birth defect is caused by a deviation in the standard of care. For example, contacting our experienced professionals would be beneficial to you and your child if Topamax (Topiramate) was taken during pregnancy. The FDA has recently announced that Topamax has been linked to an increase in the development of cleft lips and palates. Contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation or call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.
The woman’s troubles began in early June, 2010. On June 8th, the resident fell two times causing significant injuries. First, she fell directly out of her wheelchair, causing her to knock her head against the ground. The woman sustained injuries just above her right eye. Later that same day, the resident fell once again out of her chair onto the floor of a lounge area at the care center. Employees should have been aware of the potential for falls because this woman suffered from advanced dementia and this should have been apparent to her caretakers. Less than one month later, on July 5th, an employee did not know how to use a Divided-leg Sling which was attached to a mechanical lift. This lack of understanding led to yet another fall. This led to the development of a significant sized bump on the back of her head. An investigator for the state was able to substantiate these claims of nursing home neglect when he visited the Lutheran Care Center in September of 2010. Nursing home neglect is a growing problem across the map and it is crucial that these problems be reported as soon as possible in an effort to sustain the health of patients and residents everywhere.
Your child has a cleft lip and is about to start school and you are nervous that he or she may be the victim of a school bully. Our caring 
A Miami company, Banner Supply, sold 1.4 million sheets of the defective drywall to various builders throughout the state of Florida. Homeowners will now be compensated due to the corrosive material that was used in their homes. This problem, with Chinese drywall, began to grow in the time after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita hit the southern coast. Chinese drywall was imported into the States in large numbers as the call to rebuild homes grew louder. 
Although this may seem overwhelming, children born with a cleft lip/palate can still have healthy teeth. Proper cleaning, good nutrition, and fluoride treatment is necessary. The teeth should be cleaned with a small, soft-bristled toothbrush, as soon as the teeth are visible. Early evaluation is critical, with many dentists recommending the first visit being scheduled at one year of age, or in some cases, even sooner. What dental work your child needs will be determined by the dentist, which can be as simple as preventative care, or can be extensive including dental surgery.
