Cleft palate is a term that describes a separation in the roof of the mouth. It happens when the tissue that makes up the roof of the mouth, called the palate, does not join completely before birth. The palate usually forms between the sixth and ninth weeks of pregnancy. The gap in the mouth can extend from the front of the mouth (hard palate) to the throat (soft palate) and may include the lip. A separation in the lip is called a cleft lip.
About 2,650 babies are born with a cleft palate each year in the U.S. Boys are more likely to have a cleft lip with or without a cleft palate, but a cleft palate without a cleft lip is more common in girls. In the U.S., cleft palates also are most common among Native Americans and least common among African Americans.