Prognostic Factors for Hearing Outcomes in Children with Cleft Lip and Palate.

BACKGROUND

This study was performed to investigate the prognostic factors that influence hearing outcomes of children with cleft lip and palate after ventilation tube insertion.

METHODS

The authors retrospectively reviewed the hearing thresholds of 90 children with cleft lip and palate and performed univariate and multivariate analyses of five prognostic factors for hearing outcomes: age at palatoplasty, age at first ventilation tube insertion, timing of ventilation tube insertion, frequency of ventilation tube insertion, and type of cleft palate.

RESULTS

On univariate analysis, the authors found that older age at palatoplasty (p = 0.002), older age at first ventilation tube insertion (p = 0.025), and increased frequency of ventilation tube insertion (p = 0.048) were significant prognostic factors for poorer hearing outcomes in children with cleft lip and palate. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that late palatoplasty (age older than 1 year) was the most influential factor for poor hearing outcome (OR, 2.83), followed by two or more ventilation tube insertions (OR, 1.94).

CONCLUSION

The age at palatoplasty and frequency of ventilation tube insertion were found to be significant prognostic factors influencing hearing outcomes in children with cleft lip and palate.

CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Risk, III.