Pediatric Speech Therapy for Cleft Lip or Palate
in Charlotte & Huntersville, NC
If your baby was born with a cleft lip or palate, surgery is often the first step in care. But repairing the structure of the mouth does not automatically lead to clear speech. And some children born with a cleft lip or palate who do not require surgery may still need support learning how to produce sounds accurately. This is where speech therapy comes in.
At Little Wonders Pediatric Therapy, our licensed speech therapists help children with cleft lip or palate strengthen speech clarity, improve sound production, and grow into confident communicators.
What Is a Cleft Lip or Palate?
A cleft lip or palate occurs when the upper lip or the roof of the mouth does not fully form during early pregnancy. Some children are born with a cleft lip, a cleft palate, or both. Many children receive surgery to repair a cleft lip or palate, while others do not.
Because speech requires precise coordination of the lips, tongue, and airflow, children with a cleft lip or palate may have difficulty producing certain sounds clearly, regardless of whether they have had surgery.
How Cleft Lip or Palate Can Affect Speech
A cleft lip or palate can impact your child’s speech in several ways, including:
- Struggling to produce certain consonant sounds clearly
- Speaking in a nasal or unclear voice
- Experiencing delays in speech sound development
- Having trouble being understood by peers or adults
How Speech Therapy Helps Children with Cleft Lip or Palate
At Little Wonders Pediatric Therapy, our pediatric speech therapists help your child develop clearer speech through play-based therapy tailored to their speech patterns, developmental level, and communication goals.
Speech therapy may focus on:
- Improving articulation and sound clarity
- Teaching accurate tongue and lip placement for speech sounds
- Reducing nasal-sounding speech when appropriate
- Practicing the mouth movements used for speech to improve sound clarity
- Building confidence through positive, motivating practice
Because some babies born with cleft lip or palate may have difficulty creating the suction needed for standard bottles or breastfeeding, our speech therapists can also teach families appropriate feeding techniques to support safe and successful feeding.
Why Choose Little Wonders Pediatric Therapy
Since 2018, Little Wonders Pediatric Therapy has supported children in the Charlotte and Huntersville areas through compassionate, personalized care. Our pediatric speech therapists are experienced in helping children with a wide range of speech challenges, including those related to cleft lip or palate. We use a play-based, child-centered approach and create individualized treatment plans based on your child’s needs. We also partner closely with families to support progress at home, in school, and in everyday interactions.Â
Reach Out Today to Get Started
If you have concerns about your child’s speech related to a cleft lip or palate, call Little Wonders Pediatric Therapy at (704) 312-7678, email info@littlewonderstherapy.com, or fill out our online form to schedule an evaluation. We look forward to helping your child grow into a confident communicator.