Dr Stephanie van Eeden on a UK-wide research programme that is aimed at young adults. Plus a letter from Kenneth Low
With reference to the article by Hugh Davies about his experiences of having been born with a cleft lip (A moment that changed me: I cried about my cleft lip for the first time in my 60s, 29 April), it is fantastic to see cleft experiences given national attention, especially when there is still so much misunderstanding about what a cleft truly is. It is often assumed to be a small cosmetic difference. In reality, it shapes feeding, hearing, speech, dental development, facial growth and emotional wellbeing from the very first days of life. Someone in their 60s speaking openly about the lifelong impact of this is powerful.
The reforms that regionalised cleft care in the early 2000s have meant that experiences have changed since Hugh’s childhood. Today’s children benefit from coordinated surgical care, better speech and hearing support, and a far stronger understanding of psychological needs.
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