A new survey has discovered that some teens who have a clept lip or cleft palate since birth are able to adjust far better than normal teens. The research was conducted with British mothers and teens aged 11 to 16 who were born with cleft lip or palate.
The factors that went on to affect the way they were able to adjust were based on the negative social experiences that they had had, the speech problems encountered, difficulty in other people being able to understand them and not being happy with the way they looked. They might resort to social withdrawal as a coping strategy. Mothers played a vital role in the way their kids were able to adjust to the surrounding environment.
Cleft lip or palate is when the lip or the palate which is the roof of the mouth is unable to close properly. This is because of the fetal not being formed right. In the US alone there are about 6,800 babies who are born every year with either a cleft lip or palate.
This can be corrected with the right kind of surgery. The demerits that are linked with a cleft palate is that babies will find it difficult to feed, be prone to more ear infections then normal babies, face hearing loss and have speech difficulties. Also, a cleft palate can result in severe dental problems.
These findings and the survey will go on to help in the ability to help adolescents be able to deal with the anxiety and concern that arises from a cleft palate. The right kind of help and medical intervention will allow them to have an increased self confidence and the right coping techniques.