Craniofacial Center

Our multidisciplinary team collaborates to diagnose and treat an array of common and complex disorders in infants, children, adolescents, and young adults, including:

• Cleft lip and palate
• Cranial and facial asymmetry
• Craniosynostosis
• Ectodermal dysplasia
• Microtia & Atresia
• Nasal and jaw deformities
• Other oral and facial asymmetry and facial abnormalities
• Speech disorders associated with hypernasality and/or velopharyngeal incompetence
• 22q11.2 deletion syndrome

Our multidisciplinary team collaborates to diagnose and treat an array of common and complex disorders in infants, children, adolescents and young adults. Our multidisciplinary medical and surgical team consists of specialists from:

• Care Coordination
• Cultural Mediator/Spanish Medical Interpreter
• Developmental Pediatrics
• Medical Photography
• Oral Maxillofacial Surgery
• Orthodontics
• Pediatric Dentistry
• Pediatric Neurosurgery
• Pediatric Otolaryngology (ENT)
• Pediatric Speech and Language Pathology
• Plastic Surgery
• Social Work

We provide care for children with a combination of conditions, such as congenital defects of the head and neck and defects acquired from trauma or cancer, who require a coordinated and interdisciplinary diagnostic and therapeutic approach.

Clinic appointments include evaluations by multiple specialists during one visit, as necessary. Our specialists work together to develop coordinated team assessments and treatment plans, and aim to minimize the number of appointments and procedures a patient may require.

Many cases require complex surgeries to treat your child’s condition. This may introduce unique circumstances that will impact medical care throughout his or her life. Our team provides the necessary long-term care for patients and families, even after the child enters adulthood.

The Craniofacial Team provides prenatal consultations to community providers and expectant parents for diagnosis, feeding assistance and family support.

Our board-certified pediatric radiologists are dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of childhood illnesses using the most advanced imaging procedures available. Connecticut Children’s adheres to the national Image Gently standards to limit radiation exposure to children while still providing safe, high-quality pediatric imaging.

Genetic counseling services are available allowing for early detection of genetic disorders, resulting in early intervention for craniofacial abnormalities assisting families with making informed decisions for their child.

For your convenience, hearing tests can be coordinated for the same day as your Craniofacial Team visit. Our comprehensive audiology team performs in-depth testing and diagnosis to determine if your child has a hearing loss or vestibular disorders, and measures the type of severity of any problem.

A group consisting of Craniofacial Team parents, family, and staff, who meet quarterly to discuss how to make the team grow and stay family focused. They coordinate parent to parent support, plan events for patients, host fundraisers, and more.

For more information or to become a formalized Craniofacial Family Advisor call the office at 860.545.9360.

Our Parent-to-Parent Network provides support for parents and pediatric patients by connecting them to other Connecticut Children’s families who have experienced similar diagnoses and treatments. For more information, please call 860.545.9360.

Connecticut Children’s Craniofacial Special Purpose Fund helps purchase items not covered by the regular Craniofacial department budget.  The items purchased are given to patients who receive care at the Craniofacial Department at Connecticut Children’s. Items include Pigeon bottles and nipples, Dr. Brown’s special bottles, Haberman special feeders, special cups, craniofacial awareness materials, patient events, and more. The special bottles are not covered by insurance but are vital to help our cleft babies grow big and strong for surgery.

You can help! All monies in the special purpose fund are donated.  Patients, providers, family and friends all help with fundraising. If you would like more information about the special purpose fund or find out how you can help, please call the Craniofacial Team at 860.545.9360.

The American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association aims to advance patient care and research for individuals affected with cleft lip, cleft palate and other craniofacial anomalies.

Ameriface provides a variety of resources for families of children with facial differences, including education materials, networking opportunities, a toll-free support hotline and more.

The Children’s Craniofacial Association offers several resources for children and families affected by facial differences.

Craniokids provides a forum where families can seek and provide emotional support, share experiences, and learn about craniosynostosis.

The International 22q11.2 Foundation provides resources and support on the 22q11.2 deletion or duplication.

The National Foundation for Ectodermal Dysplasia empowers and connects those affected by ectodermal dysplasia.