When Alexis Garcia brought her 3-year-old daughter, Ember, to UMC Healthcare Partners’ High Desert Oral and Facial Surgery (HDOFS) cleft palate clinic, she had one main concern: her daughter’s speech.
After meeting with the clinic’s specialists, Garcia left with reassurance.
“I feel really happy, really grateful that her speech is on track,” Garcia said.
Ember is one of many children seen through the monthly clinic, which provides care for patients with cleft lip, cleft palate, and other conditions affecting the face and mouth.
Understanding Cleft Palate
Cleft conditions can affect more than appearance. Depending on the child, they may also affect speech, hearing, nutrition, dental development, and other areas of health.
That is why the clinic brings several specialists together to evaluate each child’s needs. The team includes cleft and craniofacial surgeons, speech therapists, orthodontists, ear, nose, and throat specialists, nutrition professionals and others.
Dr. David M. Yates, a board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon with HDOFS, explained that treating cleft conditions requires looking beyond the surgical result.
“Cleft is complex,” Yates said. “If you see a surgeon, I might say ‘the lip looks great, and the palate looks great,’ but if the palate doesn’t work for speech, we’ve got more work to do.”
For families, having multiple specialists involved can make it easier to identify concerns and coordinate care as a child grows.
Care Close to Home
The HDOFS cleft palate clinic has served families in the region for more than 25 years. Its monthly clinic provides children with access to specialists who can monitor their development and address changing needs over time.
The clinic is held on the fourth Monday of each month at HDOFS’ Cimarron Office.
For children with cleft lip, cleft palate and other craniofacial conditions, coordinated care can help families understand what comes next and make sure concerns are addressed along the way. UMC Healthcare Partners and its specialists continue to provide that care for families across the El Paso region.
It is important to monitor your health regularly to prevent, detect, and manage potential risks. At University Medical Center of El Paso, our health professionals are here to support your overall well-being. Call (915) 521-7979 today to schedule an appointment or visit umcelpaso.org to learn more.
