cleft lip complication?

[boysrock]

Ds (4) had a cleft lip repair when he was 4. His teacher mentioned yesterday that she was concerned about his speech and had noticed that he doesn't move his top lip when talking. Anyone else had experience of this?
If so do you mind telling me what the outcome was?

I'm hoping its not more surgery for him :(

Tia.

[MareeyaDolores]

Sounds more like needs re-referral to speech therapy at this stage. The local school-age team should be able to work on it, but ideally he'd be reviewed by SLT at his cleft surgery unit, as it can be quite specialised.

[SallyBear]

Can he feel ice or heat across his top lip? It might be some facial nerve bruising if not. Contact your Cleft Link Nurse and speak to her, did you have a specialist Cleft Team SALT?

[boysrock]

Thanks. Yes he's due an mdt cleft team review in may. I'm reassured that people think its more likely to be speech therapy rather than surgery. We can cope with that. {Smile} Ds would be a very unhappy bunny if he had to have more surgery.

[boysrock]

Speech therapist is attached to cleft team. School did offer a referral but I've gone straight to cleft team as I suspected it would be more specialised. I'll have to try him with an ice cube over his lip. He doesn't drool when eating but closing his mouth seems to be difficult. That could be his age though.

[elliejjtiny]

I would say speech therapy is much more likely than surgery. My knowledge on the subject isn't great though as my DC who has a cleft lip is a lot younger than yours.

[chesticles]

How long has it been since his surgery? I think it might take a while for the scar to heal properly enough to stretch.
DS has a cleft palate, and he gets quite a lot of speech therapy through the cleft team. I'm sure your team will be able to advise and help.