[Submucous cleft palate]

The author describes submucous clefts of the palate, i.e. main characteristics, incidence in the normal population and in the population suffering from clefts, incidence as regards sex, the most striking sequelae and associated problems. Attention is focused on difficulties associated with the diagnosis of the condition and also on aberrant facial characteristics, microforms, syndromes where submucous cleft palate forms one of their components, hearing disorders, dental defects and other associated signs among which impaired speech, palatolalia, is the most striking. The author addresses all clinical workers and draws attention to the necessity of more detailed information on findings associated with submucous cleft of the palate in order to ensure early diagnosis surgical and conservative treatment as well as phoniatric and logopedic therapy in order to prevent severe speech disorders--palatolalia.