What to Expect at Your First Appointment at the Cleft and Craniofacial Center

A patient’s first visit at the Cincinnati Children’s Cleft and Craniofacial Center differs depending on when the issue is identified.

• Prenatal: When a craniofacial condition is identified during pregnancy, your family has the option to meet with our team before delivery. You’ll visit with a human genetics provider and a genetic counselor in relaxed setting. You can ask questions, and we’ll help you learn what to expect after delivery. We’ll discuss feeding options and provide feeding supplies for your baby.

• Newborn: You will see a provider from our Division of Human Genetics who will monitor your baby’s feeding progress. We’ll recommend a timeline for treatment and discuss what you can expect in the coming months.

• Older children: If you are coming to our clinic for the first time with an older child, we will perform a physical exam and discuss options for treatment and surgery.

• Adult: At Cincinnati Children’s Cleft and Craniofacial Center, we also treat adults with craniofacial issues. Every patient we see is different, and we will use this first visit to assess your unique challenges.

Making an Appointment at the Cleft and Craniofacial Center

We want it to be easy for you to get the care you or your child needs. You can contact us directly to schedule an appointment. Or, your pediatrician or provider can refer you to our center. We also take referrals from the emergency department and other hospitals.

On the Day of Your Visit to the Cleft and Craniofacial Center

Arriving At Your Appointment

You will need to arrive about 30 minutes before your child’s appointment. This will allow 15 minutes to park and walk to our clinic, and 15 minutes to check in at our registration desk. The Cleft and Craniofacial Center is located on the fifth floor of Location C (Outpatient Services Building) at Cincinnati Children’s Burnet Campus.

If you are running late, please contact us.

At Your Appointment

During this first visit, we want to focus on your immediate needs. For newborns, those needs might include feeding, in which case a speech-language pathologist will help you. Older babies and children may be ready for surgery, so we will discuss timelines and continuing care. This is the beginning of your relationship with us, and we’ll make sure you feel comfortable every step of the way.

After Your Visit to the Cleft and Craniofacial Center

You will receive an “After Visit Summary” at the end of your appointment. It will include important details about upcoming appointments, test results, referrals to specialists, and all medications (including new prescriptions). It also will include contact information for your child’s care team.