MANAGEMENT OF CLEFT LIP AND PALATE IN PAKISTAN

Abstract

Knowledge about the effective management of cleft lip and palate, the common birth defect is gaining prominence worldwide. The superintendence of a child with a cleft lip or cleft lip and palate begins from the day the infant is born. Cleft lip and palate management necessitates  active participation and coordination among professionals such as clinical nurse specialist, feeding specialist, maxillofacial surgeon, craniofacial surgeon, pediatric anesthetist, orthodontist, dentist, otolaryngologist, consultant pediatrician, consultant ENT, audiologist, speech and language therapist, clinical psychologist, and consultant clinical geneticist.

In Pakistan, limited involvement of speech and language therapists in the neonatal and primary care unit engenders complications. Role of speech and language therapist is significant in creating awareness about specific feeding techniques to prevent primary and secondary complications including malnutrition⁴. Feeding guidelines provided by American Speech and Hearing Association can be provided to clinical nursing specialists enabling them to manage children in NICU or primary care units. Communication difficulties can be addressed by counseling and training of parents and caretakers⁵. A social counselor serves the role of parent advocate, can coordinate with the speech, language therapist to counsel parents enabling them to manage a child born with cleft lip and palate.