Young children who suffer from cleft lip or cleft palate may experience a number of health problems. Birth defects attorneys point out that these young babies may have trouble gaining weight due to feeding troubles, and they may experience poor growth, repeated ear infections, and speech difficulties as they continue to grow. Initially, a baby will undergo certain tests of the mouth, nose, and palate to confirm the existence, nature, and severity of the cleft lip or cleft palate. Further medical tests should be conducted to rule out other health conditions that may pop up down the road in order to maximize the health of the child.
Treatment of Children with Cleft Lip
When a child is between the ages of six weeks and nine months, surgery is usually done to close the cleft lip. Additional surgery may also be necessary down the road if the cleft has a major effect on the nose and the surrounding area. If the cleft lip can be successfully closed by this initial surgery, it becomes much more likely that the child will have normal speech developments as the aging process continues. During the early months however, a prosthetic is sometimes inserted temporarily to close a baby’s palate to ensure that a baby can receive the proper food and nutrients. When a baby is able to take in the proper amount of nutrients, even with the cleft lip and cleft palate, lawyers say that growth and weight issues are not nearly as likely.
Birth Defects Attorneys in New Jersey and Philadelphia
Many parents who have children born with a cleft lip or cleft palate are often overwhelmed and, in some instances, confused about their legal rights. They are especially confused about whether or not the services of birth defects attorneys would be needed. In some cases, there have been improper actions that may have led to your child’s birth defect and contacting our professionals is beneficial to your family’s physical and financial health. 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.