Frequent Questions
The Craniofacial Center at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center answers questions frequently asked by parents.
What types of patients does the Craniofacial Center evaluate?
At Cincinnati Children's, the Craniofacial Center team sees children and young adults with abnormalities of the skull, face, jaws, and mouth. Most of these conditions occur at birth. Some of the most common conditions evaluated include:
- Cleft lip and/or cleft palate
- Pierre Robin sequence
- Hemifacial microsomia
- Velopharyngeal insufficiency
- Goldenhar's syndrome
- Crouzon's disease
- Craniosynostosis
- Skeletal jaw abnormalities
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How are patients evaluated?
Individuals referred to the Craniofacial Center are scheduled by the coordinator to the appropriate craniofacial clinic. Most children are evaluated through the Craniofacial Team where all the disciplines (specialties) are represented.
Individuals followed by the Craniofacial Center usually are evaluated once a year. Patients are seen individually by team members, who then recommend a coordinated, comprehensive treatment plan.
A report of the team's recommendations is sent to the family and the child's health care providers. The Craniofacial Center coordinator reviews the report with the parents and assists in the follow-up.
Newborn infants are evaluated in the Division of Human Genetics' Craniofacial Clinic, where they are followed until they are 3 years old. Yearly Craniofacial Team evaluations usually begin at age 3 to 4 years and continue until treatment is complete.
The Craniofacial Center holds special meetings for parents of infants with clefting conditions. At this meeting, parents can learn about future operations and how craniofacial conditions could affect their child's speech and language development, hearing, dental care, and psychosocial development. The genetic implications of cleft lip / palate are also discussed.
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What do each of the craniofacial clinics specialize in?
The Craniofacial Team is where most children affected with cleft lip and / or cleft palate, Pierre Robin sequence, hemifacial microsomia, Crouzon's diseases and other related craniofacial conditions are evaluated. Children are seen by all the disciplines on the team.
The Infant and Toddler Genetics Craniofacial Clinic is where newborns, infants and toddlers are evaluated. They are seen by a geneticist and advanced practice nurse. This clinic ensures that a child is receiving appropriate medical and dental management. Growth and development is closely monitored. These children are followed on a regular basis until they are 3-4 years old. They are then referred to the Craniofacial Team for yearly evaluations until treatment is complete.
The Infant & Toddler Orientation is a special meeting for parents of infants born with a cleft condition. Orientations are offered every three months. Parents who know prenatally that their child will be affected with a clefting condition are invited to this meeting. Parents who are planning to adopt a child or have recently adopted a child with cleft lip / cleft palate are also welcomed. Several Craniofacial Team members meet with the group of parents and talk about future surgeries and how cleft lip / cleft palate could affect a child's speech and language development, hearing, dental care, and psychosocial development. The genetic implications of cleft lip / cleft palate are also discussed. A parent who has a child affected with cleft lip and palate speaks about surgical experiences and how it impacts both the child and family.
The Velopharyngeal Dysfunction Clinic evaluates children with velopharyngeal dysfunction (nasal sounding speech) but without a history of cleft palate. A speech pathologist, otolaryngologist and geneticist staff this clinic.
The Orthognathic and Oral Surgery Clinic is held once a month. An oral surgeon and orthodontist evaluate older children who have significant teeth, jaw and mouth abnormalities. These children often require both orthodontic treatment and jaw surgery to correct the skeletal misalignment of the teeth / jaws.
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After an evaluation, who provides treatment?
The Craniofacial Center's recommendations for evaluation and treatment of craniofacial conditions may include reconstructive surgery, speech / language therapy, a genetics evaluation or orthodontic treatment.
When families live too far away to have all of their child's health care provided at Cincinnati Children's, the Craniofacial Center can serve as a consultant to the local health care providers and continue to evaluate the child yearly to update the treatment plan.
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How are patients referred to the Craniofacial Center at Cincinnati Children's?
Pediatricians or primary surgeons refer patients to the Cincinnati Children's Craniofacial Center. The Craniofacial Center also accepts referrals from other health care professionals, hospitals, school representatives and parents.
For more information, please contact Craniofacial Center Administrator Iris Sageser (iris.sageser@cchmc.org), 513-636-4539. Callers outside the Cincinnati area may call toll-free, 1-800-344-2462, and ask for extension 6-4539.
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