Your Visit to the Cleft Lip and Palate Program

What to expect for a cleft lip or cleft palate evaluation at the Cleft Lip and Palate Program

Our multidisciplinary team of specialists meets on most Mondays to perform patient evaluations. Your child’s visit to the Cleft Lip and Palate Program for an evaluation typically lasts at least 4 hours and can sometimes take the entire day.

Since these visits can take most of the day, we recommend coming prepared with books, toys, electronic devices and snacks. An evaluation like this should take place every 1 to 2 years so we can make sure your child is developing in line with the current treatment plan and for our specialists to determine a treatment plan for the upcoming year.

For new patients

Patients and their caregivers will meet with their cleft surgeon. Our cleft surgeons have credentials, training and experience performing cleft surgeries for infants, children, adolescents and young adults. Surgeons coordinate their schedules to accommodate multiple procedures under one anesthetic, with the goal of limiting your child’s exposure to anesthesia.

For families that have been treated by other teams and are now joining Children’s Hospital Colorado’s Cleft Lip and Palate Program, we encourage you to bring any surgical records, cleft clinic notes or radiology images that may have been taken previously. If you don’t have copies of imaging, please request the images to be released to the cleft team for review prior to the clinic evaluation. 

For new babies

For new babies with cleft lip or cleft palate, we’ll schedule a visit where your child and family will meet the full team of cleft experts. They will provide a full evaluation and recommendations for treatment for the first year as well as support for feeding needs. This evaluation typically takes 3 to 4 hours.

For older children and established patients

Children who have had surgery when they were younger, or children who have already joined our program, can see a variety of specialists depending on their individual needs, including.

After an evaluation at the Cleft Lip and Palate Program

The team meets to discuss each child’s individualized treatment plan. From the MyChart portal, parents and caregivers receive a summary report with team recommendations.

Treatments and services we offer include nasal alveolar molding (NAM), nasal endoscopy, surgical interventions, scar management, feeding support and hearing evaluation. 

Learn more about treatments and find other helpful resources.

Visit information

• Get directions and find a place to stay while visiting Children’s Colorado.
• Learn about resources available at Children's Hospital Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.
• Read tips to help you and your family prepare for surgery and watch a pre-surgery tour video of the Anschutz Medical Campus.

Clinics Associated with the Cleft Lip and Palate Program

As a collaborative pediatric hospital, Children’s Colorado has every specialist your child might need during treatment for cleft lip and palate. Depending on your child's needs, you may meet with experts from our other clinics, including:

• Aerodigestive Clinic
• Audiology Clinic
• Craniofacial Center
• Craniofacial Orthodontic Clinic
• Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES) Clinic
• Genetics Clinic
• Lactation Program (breastfeeding support)
• Orthognathic Clinic (Jaw Clinic)
• Nutrition Clinic
• Pediatric Dental Clinic
• Pediatric Oral Feeding Clinic
• Sleep Lab
• Swallowing Disorders Clinic
• Velopharyngeal Insufficiency (VPI) Multispecialty Clinic
• Velocardiofacial Syndrome Clinic