Glossary

Cleft Lip & Palate Service Website

Alveolar Bone Grafting

An operation required in some children with a cleft affecting their gum in order to help in the development of normal teeth alignment. It is performed at between 8-10 years of age with bone graft being taken, usually from the hip, and introduced into the gum.

Alveolar Ridge

The bony ridge of the upper jaw (maxilla) and lower jaw (mandible), which hold the teeth.

Articulation

The process of forming speech sounds.

Articulation Test

An evaluation which provides information about how speech sounds are formed.

Audiogram

A standard graph used to record hearing levels or sensitivity.

Audiologist

A person with a degree, license, and certification in audiology (science of hearing) who measures hearing, identifies hearing loss, and participates in rehabilitation of hearing impairment.

Combined Cleft Clinic

A Clinic in which all members of the Cleft Team are present.

Columella

The central, lower portion of the nose, which divides the nostrils.

Communication Disorder

An interference with a person's ability to comprehend others

Comprehension

Knowledge or understanding of spoken or written language.

Congenital

A disease, deformity, or deficiency existing at the time of birth.

Crossbite

A dental condition where the upper teeth are behind the lower teeth rather than in front.

Dental Arch

The curved structure formed by the teeth in their normal position.

front of them. It can also apply to the back teeth, laterally.

Eardrum

Tympanic membrane, which vibrates and transmits sound to the middle ear.

ENT

The abbreviation for ear, nose and throat.

ENT Surgeon

A surgeon specialising in the diagnosis and treatment of the ear, nose and larynx and in treatment of problems diagnosed.

Eustachian Tube

The air duct, which connects the back of the throat (the nasopharynx) with the middle ear. This tube is usually closed at one end becoming opened during yawning and swallowing. It allows ventilation of the middle ear and permits the equalisation of pressure on two sides of the eardrum.

Evaluation

Assessment test.

Feeding Plate

A plastic mould placed into the mouth to aid in feeding and to improve the shape of the hard palate prior to surgery.

Fistula

An abnormal opening between two spaces, which in the case of cleft lip and palate is a hole in the hard palate causing an abnormal opening between the mouth and the nose cavities.

Genetics

The science of heredity.

Glue Ear

An abnormal accumulation of fluid in the middle ear, resulting from impaired drainage via the Eustachian tube and which results in hearing impairment.

Grommets

Tiny plastic tubes inserted into the eardrums to allow ventilation of the middle ear and prevent the abnormal accumulation of fluid.

Hare Lip

An outdated term for cleft lip.

Hearing Impairment

A loss in hearing which may range from mild loss to complete loss, and which may be temporary or permanent.

Heredity

The total of the physical characteristics, abilities and potentialities genetically derived from one's ancestors.

Hypernasality

Greater than normal nasal resonance or vocal tone heard during speech.

Hyponasality

A lack of normal nasal resonance during speech, like having a cold.

Language Disorder or Impairment

Inability to communicate normally and effectively due to problems with comprehension or expression of language.

Malocclusion

A deviation from normal occlusion(bite) or incorrect positioning of the upper teeth in relation to the upper teeth.

Mandible

The lower jaw.

Maxilla

The upper jaw.

Middle Ear

The portion of the ear behind the eardrum. It contains three small bones, which transfer sound from the eardrum to the inner ear.

Myringotomy

A surgical procedure in which a small slit is made in the eardrum to allow fluid to drain from the middle ear.

Nasal Emission or Nasal Escape

An abnormal flow of air through the nose during speech. Usually indicative of an incomplete seal between the oral and the nasal cavities.

Nasendoscopy

A procedure in which a small telescope is passed through the nose to assess the movements of the soft palate during speech.

Occlusion

Relationship between the upper and the lower teeth when they are in contact. It refers to the alignment of the teeth as well as the relationship of the dental arches.

Oral Cavity

The mouth bounded by the teeth in front, and the soft palate at the back.

Orofacial

Relating to the mouth and face.

Orthodontics

The speciality of dentistry concerned with the correction and prevention of irregularities and malocclusion of the teeth and jaws.

Osteotomy

Surgical cut made in bone. Occasionally required on the maxilla (the upper jaw), in patients with cleft lip and palate at the age of about 16, when seeking to improve the alignment of the teeth and to improve the facial profile.

Otitis Media

Inflammation of the middle ear with accumulation of thick, mucous fluid.

Palatal Insufficiency

A lack or shortness of tissue preventing the soft palate from contacting the back of the throat (pharynx).

Palate

The roof of the mouth including the front portion (or hard palate), and the posterior part (the soft palate, or velum).

Paediatric Dentistry

The speciality of dentistry concerned with the care of children's teeth.

Paediatrician

A physician specialising in treatment of children.

Pharyngeal Flap or Pharyngoplasty

A surgical procedure in which a flap of the lining of the throat is used to close most of he opening between the soft palate and the nasopharynx.

Philtral Column or Ridge

The ridge in the upper lip running from the nostril down to the lip margin.

Plastic Surgery

The surgical speciality dealing with the restoration and repair of various external defects.

Premaxilla

The small bone in the upper jaw, which contains the upper four teeth. It connects with the lateral segments of the upper jaw or maxilla.

Pre-Surgical Orthopaedics

Term used to describe a variety of orthodontic plates and tapes which can be used prior to the surgical repair of the cleft to improve the alignment of the segments of the cleft (either palatal or lip).

Prosthesis

An artificial substitute for a missing body part.

Prosthetic Speech Aid

A removable acrylic appliance, which provides a structural means of achieving velopharyngeal closure, thereby aiding speech.

Prosthodontist

A dentist who specialises in providing prosthetic appliances for the mouth.

Psychologist

An individual with the necessary training and experience to be licensed to practice psychology as a profession.

Resonance

Vocal quality associated with the vibration of air in the oral and nasal cavities.

Soft Palate

The mobile soft tissue attached to the back of the hard part of the palate, crucial to swallowing and speech. It contains muscles whose function results in the closure of the mouth cavity from the nose cavity.

Speech & Language Therapist

An individual with the necessary academic training and experience to be certified or licensed to diagnose and treat disorders of speech, language and communication.

Speech Defects

Deviation of speech from the range of normal.

Uvula

The small, cone shaped process hanging from the back of the soft palate.

Velopharyngeal Closure

The closing of the nasal cavity from the oral cavity, which directs air used in speech through the mouth rather than the nose. It requires interaction of the muscles in the palate and back of the throat.

Velopharyngeal Incompetence

Inability to achieve adequate velopharyngeal closure despite structures that may appear normal.

Velopharyngeal Insufficiency

A structural or functional disorder resulting in the inability to achieve adequate separation of the nasal and oral cavities.

Velum

The soft palate.

Videofluoroscopy

An investigation using X-Rays to assess the movements of the soft palate during speech usually performed at between 5-10 years of age.