The Wisconsin Cleft Palate Program

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Abstract
Brief review of the history of the incidence of cleft palate. For a 10-yr. period in the State of Wisconsin, between Jan. 1, 1935, and Dec. 31, 1944, there was one cleft palate in every 770 births. The % of cleft palate births was greater for the non-glaciated areas than for the glaciated areas. A larger number of cleft palate children were born during the summer months than during any other time. The incidence of cleft palate increased slightly during the war years. Mothers aged 20-24 yrs. produced more normal children while the group 35-39, 40-44 and 45-plus produced proportionately more children with cleft palate. Cleft palate births were skewed toward the male sex. 9.73% of 226 cases of cleft palate children were twins while only 2.15% of the normal total live births in the State of Wisconsin were twins. There was a slight discrepancy in favor of rural areas in pro- duction of cleft palates. There was a discrepancy in favor of premature children producing more cleft palates. There is a slight tendency for cleft palates to occur more frequently on the left side. Since 1943 a program of surgery, prosthesis and orthodonture has been conducted in the Wisconsin Orthopedic Hospital together with speech pathology. The Bureau of Handicapped Children in the State of Wisconsin has a medical social worker who works at the Wisconsin Orthopedic Hospital and handles the social problems which arise. A child welfare consultant works during the summer, finding boarding homes and supervising such social problems.

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