Exams and Tests

A diagnosis of cleft palate is based on a physical exam of the baby's mouth at birth. If your newborn is diagnosed with cleft palate, he or she will likely also be examined for other birth defects, such as a small jaw. Also, a cleft in the uvula can be mistaken for a cleft of the soft palate.

See a picture comparing a normal mouth and two types of cleft palate.

Although rare, cleft palate is sometimes a symptom of another health condition, such as fetal alcohol syndrome. For this reason, it is important for children to be evaluated for other conditions beginning at birth, especially if other symptoms are present, such as other facial deformities or learning disabilities.

Some children with cleft palate may need testing for complications, such as speech and hearing problems, throughout their lives.

Early detection

Fetal ultrasound can sometimes detect cleft palate as early as 14 to 16 weeks of gestation, especially if it is severe and occurs along with a cleft lip. But fetal ultrasound is not reliable for this purpose. For more information on this test, see the topic Fetal Ultrasound.

Cleft lip or cleft palate can be passed down through families (inherited). If you have a family history of cleft lip or cleft palate, you may benefit from genetic counseling. A genetic counselor can help you understand your chances of having a child with a cleft lip or cleft palate.

Sometimes an inherited disease or condition causes a number of defects including cleft palate. If you have had a fetal ultrasound that shows your fetus is likely to have cleft palate and other defects, you may decide to have genetic counseling along with amniocentesis or karyotype testing. These tests and genetic counseling can help you learn whether your fetus is likely to have a condition caused by chromosomes that aren't normal. Karyotype testing can also be done after your baby is born.