Cleft Palate 

Well you have now learnt about the cleft lip and now let us discuss and understand what is cleft palate. Cleft palate (CP) is midline fissure of  the palate that  results from a failure of fusion of  the tissues forming the palate. This may involve soft palate alone or can extend along the hard palate and, in most severe cases it may include anterior portion of  the maxilla (see Fig. ). The child will have feeding problem and speech difficulty. Child may get recurrent respiratory infections and ear infection.  

Fig.  Cleft palate

Incidence cleft palate alone occurs 1 in 2000 live brings.  

It is found to be more common in females  than in males.