Which technique is used to determine if the newborn has a cleft palate?

• A. Place a finger in the nose.
• B. Visual inspection only.
• C. Imaging.
• D. Palpate the top of the infant's mouth with a gloved finger.

Answer: (D)

Detecting a cleft palate in a newborn relies on a careful oral examination of the palate, because some clefts are hidden beneath the mucosa and won’t be obvious with a casual look. Palpating the roof of the mouth with a gloved finger lets you feel for a notch, fissure, or opening along the hard palate, which helps identify both visible and submucosal clefts. This bedside technique is quick, accessible, and can reveal defects that visual inspection might miss, guiding timely feeding guidance and referrals for specialist follow-up. Visual inspection alone can miss subtler clefts, while imaging is typically reserved for later assessment or surgical planning. Placing a finger in the nose isn’t used for assessing the palate.