4. Breathing Difficulties: The Overlooked Sign
Breathing effortlessly is something most of us take for granted. But for individuals with a cleft palate, even this basic life function can become cumbersome. The opening or gap in the palate can make it hard to separate the nose from the mouth effectively.
This can lead to challenges like snoring or noisy breathing. Especially during sleep, the relaxed state of muscles combined with the structural anomaly can cause significant airflow restrictions. For some, it might even escalate to sleep apnea, where breathing repeatedly stops and starts.
It’s not just about nighttime woes. Daytime fatigue, due to interrupted sleep, can affect daily activities, school performance in kids, or work productivity in adults. And while everyone might have an occasional night of bad sleep, consistent patterns shouldn’t be ignored. (4)
