Cleft Lip & Cleft Palate Program
Expertise You Can Trust
Nemours Children’s offers expert care and support for children born with cleft lip and cleft palate. Our dedicated team includes multiple specialists who come together to provide everything your child needs to thrive physically, socially and emotionally.
About 1 in 700 babies is born each year in the United States with a cleft of the lip or palate. It happens when the lip and/or the roof of the mouth do not form the way they should. A cleft can affect a child’s ability to eat, speak, hear and breathe.
Proper treatment can improve your child’s feeding and speech and reduce the risk for other problems like ear infections and hearing loss. That’s why it’s important to have a team with experience caring for children with cleft lip and cleft palate.
Our team includes plastic surgeons who are highly skilled in achieving the best possible functional and aesthetic outcomes. We partner with speech-language pathologists, audiologists, otolaryngologists, orthodontists, psychologists and many others to care for your child.
Meet the Team
Our Central Florida cleft team is part of the Center for Cleft & Craniofacial Differences, which is approved by the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association (ACPA). We’re here from the start, helping your child grow and develop to their full potential. Meet them now.
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Brittany Johnson, BSN, BS, RN
Plastic Surgery Craniofacial Team CoordinatorPrimary Office
Orlando, FL
Our Services
Accredited by the American Cleft Palate Craniofacial Association, our team offers complete and coordinated care that begins when your baby is still in the womb. In fact, we partner closely with our fetal specialists to plan your baby’s treatment after birth.
Our patient care coordinator answers questions, provides education and guidance and schedules visits. As a team, we offer:
- The latest minimally invasive procedures performed by board-certified, fellowship-trained experts in plastic surgery
- Otolaryngology (ENT) services to care for related ear, nose, throat and airway problems
- Speech therapy from providers with experience in cleft lip and cleft palate
- Feeding and swallowing therapy to assist with oral feeding skills and nutrition
- Audiology evaluations and hearing devices if needed
- Dental/orthodontic care, including restorative treatment and oral devices
- Hospital-based pediatrics to assist in determining readiness for any necessary surgical procedures
- Behavioral health counseling and support
- Social work services to help find community resources, family coping and more
- Support services, including Child Life services, play therapies and more
See Why Central Florida Families Choose Us
The Center for Cleft & Craniofacial Differences in Central Florida brings together all the care your child needs — from surgery and medical management to rehabilitation therapies and support for the whole family.
Based at the area’s only standalone children’s hospital, see how our team provides compassionate, customized care, close to home.
“Dr. Kellogg has amazing bedside manners and I felt like he truly listened ... I could tell right away that he is very compassionate and understanding.”
“Dr. Kellogg and the team have continued to check up on Maverick … The entire process has been amazing for our family.”
- Aiden 1
- Jason 2
Conditions & Treatments
We see many conditions — far too many to list here. The conditions we treat vary depending on the location and providers selected. Don’t see a condition listed? Call us.
Related Specialties & Programs
Everything Your Child Needs to Thrive
Nemours offers the full range of care for kids with cleft lip and cleft palate. You get everything your child and family needs, all in one place.
Our program is approved by the American Cleft Palate Craniofacial Association. You can trust we offer the highest level of quality care.
Your child’s care is provided by board-certified plastic surgeons and other advanced pediatric specialists.
Our surgeons and medical specialists work side-by-side, every day. We meet and plan care together for the most complex cases.
Our children’s hospital in Orlando is the region’s only freestanding hospital just for kids. We care only for kids, all the time.
Recognized Excellence in Cleft Care
Our cleft team is approved by the American Cleft Palate Craniofacial Association (ACPA). This means we’re recognized for having the right team in the right place for the best possible outcomes for kids with cleft lip and cleft palate.
Learn More About Cleft Lip & Cleft Palate
We believe the more you know, the better you can help your child succeed. Here are some trusted resources from our team, including medical information created by the experts at Nemours KidsHealth®.
Conditions
Treatment/Care
Convenient Follow-Up Appointments by Video
We offer follow-up appointments through scheduled, live video visits. You can avoid waiting rooms and save travel time. Ask your doctor if this is an option for your family.