Hearing loss and cleft palate: the perspective of time.

This study examines the hearing status of individuals with clefts of the palate or lip and palate without other major malformations or syndromes. A total of 1,699 audiometric records were reviewed and classified on the basis of race, gender, cleft type, age, and birth year (pre or post 1969). The results indicate that race, age, and date of birth affect the frequency of hearing loss.