children s health issues
Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate
Diagnosis of Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate
Physical examination Genetic testing Doctors usually can identify the defects during a physical examination. A baby who has a cleft lip or palate should be evaluated by a geneticist. A geneticist is a doctor who specializes in genetics (the science of genes and how certain qualities or traits are passed from parents to offspring). Genetic testing of a sample of the baby's blood may be done to look for chromosome and gene abnormalities. This testing can help doctors determine whether a specific genetic disorder is the cause and rule out other causes. 