[Cleft lip and palate: the adolescent and his family].

Cleft lip or palate: The impact on adolescents and their families. Applying Bronfenbrenner's theory on human development (1979), this article aims to provide a better understanding of the family's impact on adolescents born with a cleft lip or palate. Results focusing on the family microsystem reveal that parents can be either a source of stress or a source of support for their teenager. A description of two teenagers' life experience, when faced with similar problems, highlights the disparity between their journeys. Data indicate the importance of family support in the development of individuals born with a malformation.