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Attention Turns To Cleft and Craniofacial Birth Defects
July is National Cleft and Craniofacial Awareness and Prevention Month

Chapel Hill, N.C. June 16, 2014 In the United States, approximately one of every 600 newborn babies
is born with a cleft lip and/or cleft palate. This July, over 20 organizations committed to craniofacial care
will engage in activities promoting National Cleft and Craniofacial Awareness and Prevention Month.

Clefts of the lip and palate are the number one birth defect worldwide according to the World Health
Organization, said Marilyn Cohen, President of the Cleft Palate Foundation, And other craniofacial
conditions often affect children throughout the world. This national month of awareness provides an
opportunity to discuss facial differences, the treatment options available to individuals, and the
prevention of craniofacial defects.

Occurring in about 7,000 infants per year in the U.S., a cleft lip or palate is created when the tissue that
makes up the upper lip or the roof of the mouth does not join together completely during pregnancy,
leaving an opening. Although clefts are usually repaired surgically in the first year of life, many children
need additional surgeries and treatments as they get older to improve problems with breathing, hearing,
or speech and language development. Those born with cleft lip or palate also tend to require special
dental or orthodontic care throughout their lives.

The causes of orofacial clefts are mostly unknown, resulting from changes in the childs genes before
birth. Recently, CDC found that women who smoke during pregnancy or are diagnosed with diabetes
before pregnancy have an increased risk of having a child with a cleft. CDC also found that women who
use certain medicines to treat epilepsy, such as topiramate or valproic acid, during the first trimester (the
first 3 months) of pregnancy also have an increased risk. Craniofacial birth defects range in severity and
affect the head and face in a variety of ways. Specific information about causes and treatment for clefts
and other craniofacial birth defects in the U.S. is available through the Cleft Palate Foundation.

The Cleft Palate Foundation (CPF), a national non-profit organization, serves as a continuous resource for
individuals and families affected by clefts and other craniofacial birth defects. CPF provides
comprehensive information from healthcare specialists, family support services, and funding for research
and college scholarships. More information about CPF programs and services can be found at
www.cleftline.org or by calling the Cleftline at 800-24-CLEFT (800-242-5338).

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Media Contact:
Emily Kiser
Cleft Palate Foundation
919-933-9044
admin@cleftline.org