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Cleft Lip and Palate Program Meet the team of pediatric specialists at Arkansas Children's Hospital who provide comprehensive care from birth through adolescence for children born with cleft lip/palate What is Cleft Lip/Palate? Although the cleft is surgically repairable, there often are accompanying problems involving speech, hearing and teeth that need to be treated. Because no two clefts are alike, each child needs treatment designed to meet his individual needs. How Does the Team Work Together? The Cleft Lip and Palate Program at Arkansas Children's Hospital (ACH) incorporates
a multidisciplinary team, with each member specialized in pediatric care. An
important advantage of the team approach is that the team's professionals are
in direct and continuous communication about your child's care. Each team member
is fully aware of your child's specific needs and progress and is able to make
recommendations for care which are consistent with those given by other team
members. The goal of the team is to ensure that care is provided in a coordinated,
consistent manner with the proper sequencing of evaluations and treatments with
the framework of the child¹s overall developmental, medical and psychological
needs. The Members of the Team
The Audiologist - Since children with cleft palate have an increased risk of ear problems, ongoing audiological surveillance is necessary. The audiologist provides appropriate assessments to monitor hearing status so that diagnosis and treatment can be made for any cleft-related hearing problems. The Dental Specialists - The dental specialists include the
pediatric dentist, orthodontist, oral surgeon, periodontist and prosthodonitist. These specialists
keep track of your child's dental growth and development, and provide information
on oral hygiene and dental treatment that may be necessary due to the cleft.
The Team's Record The cleft lip and palate team is one of the many programs at ACH which provide
high quality, individual service to children with special health care needs. The "Game Plan": Your Child's Treatment Both the medical treatment and the emotional care your child will receive at ACH are geared to the special needs of each child and his or her family. The course of surgery and treatment planned for your child begins with an initial evaluation that takes place shortly after birth. This initial evaluation is one of the most important steps in the care of a child with a cleft. Not only does it increase the chances of a successful outcome, but it allows you the opportunity to have your many questions answered as quickly and as accurately as possible. Evaluations will continue after the initial one, usually at six- to 12-month intervals.Cleft Clinic The Arkansas Children's Hospital Cleft Clinic meets the first Wednesday of each month at 9 a.m. During this clinic each child is seen by each member of the cleft palate team, and all team members meet after the clinic to coordinate their recommendations for care and treatment.ACH provides an intensive, comprehensive treatment and follow-up program which follows cleft patients from initial corrective surgery through speech development to final cosmetic surgery.Referrals Children may be referred for care to the cleft clinic by physicians, speech therapists, teachers, families, guardians or others concerned with their general growth and development. To make an appointment at the cleft clinic, contact Sherri Gunnell at 501-364-7544 or via e-mail at gunnellsherril@ uams.edu. Dr. Lisa Buckmiller, director of the cleft palate program, also may be reached at 501-364-7546 or via e-mail at buckmillerlisam@uams.edu for consultation and referral.Contact Info/Referrals ENT Office: 501-364-1047
Arkansas Children's Hospital, 800 Marshall
St., Little Rock, AR 72202-3591, (501) 364-1100 or TDD (501) 364-1184
ACH is a tobacco free campus.
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