22/05/2026
Transforming your child’s cleft smile is a beautiful first step, but ensuring they speak clearly and confidently requires early speech therapy right after surgery. As a speech therapist, I see how surgery beautifully repairs the physical palate, but little mouths still need to learn how to use those newly healed muscles correctly. Without early intervention, toddlers often adapt by making sounds in the throat, leading to a permanent nasal or muffled voice. By starting therapy early, we build crucial muscle strength, prevent bad habits before they start, and keep air moving through the mouth instead of the nose. Proactive therapy is the ultimate key to preventing speech delays, boosting your child’s confidence, and ensuring they develop a perfectly clear, normal voice before they even start school.
