Sub Mucous Cleft Palate and Its Diagnosis and Management

Abstract

Four different age groups of cases came to hospital with the complaint of severely nasalized speech
and since childhood. Parents had already consulted to the physician in one of the valley Hospital who
referred the patient for speech therapy without a clinical diagnosed as sub mucous cleft (SMC). Speech
pathologist has to confirm of sub mucous cleft palate with the help of the plastic surgeon.
Sub mucous cleft palate is a significant cause of severs speech and language disorder. Aim of the paper is
to make the clinician and laymen aware of the sub mucous cleft palate which is less commonly diagnosed
partly due to ignorance and misdiagnosis.
Sub mucous cleft is the cleft of muscle and bony portion of palate it has got triad characters:- Bifid uvular,
thin bluish line in the margin raphe (septum palludine) & hyper nasality. And we could feel palpable sign
and speech and language disorder. It may have also lots of related problems like mental retarted, hearing
loss, behavior problems etc.
Sub mucous cleft, is diagnosed and management by team approach like plastic surgeon, E.N.T. Surgeon,
Dental surgeon, sp & lag pathologist and audiologist etc. Speech therapy is the one of the essential area
for their better quality of life after surgery.

DOI:  10.3126/mjsbh.v9i1.3488

Medical Journal of Shree Birendra Hospital Vol.9(1) 2010 28-31