1. By Angelo Consiglio

2.  A board-certified ear, nose, and throat surgeon
based in Key West and Marathon, Florida, and
now will be moving to Jackson Hospital in
Marianna, Florida. Angelo Consiglio, MD has
been in private practice for over 25 years. Prior to
establishing his own practice, Dr. Angelo
Consiglio completed a fellowship in
otolaryngology at Loyola University Medical
Center. He is a member of the American Academy
of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, an
organization for medical professionals who
provide services such as cleft lip and palate
treatments.

3.  July is National Cleft and Craniofacial
Awareness Month, and each year the medical
community comes together to raise
awareness about this single most common
birth defect in the world. Each year, about
7,000 children in the United States are born
with either a cleft lip or palate (the hard
tissue on the roof of the mouth), resulting in
facial deformities and potential difficulties
with eating, speaking, breathing, and
hearing.

4.  Cleft lips and palates are often treated in
infancy, though children with more severe
clefts may require subsequent procedures to
correct later health issues. While the exact
causes of cleft lips and palates are not clear,
potential risk factors of having a baby with
craniofacial issues include diabetes, smoking,
maternal thyroid disease, and a history of
clomiphene citrate (a fertility medication).