Five-Year Hearing Outcomes in Children with Cleft Lip/Palate.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the hearing outcomes in children with cleft lip and palate or isolated cleft palate, aged 5 years.

MATERIAL AND METHOD: A cross-sectional descriptive study was performed for investigation of hearing outcomes in 35 children with cleft lip and palate, aged 5 years, Audiology Clinic, Srinagarind Hospital in 2011.

RESULTS

Thirty-five ears in 22 children (50%; 95% confidence interval = 35.57 to 64.43) had conductive hearing loss. The degree of hearing loss was highest in mild degree in 28 ears. The most common tympanometric type was type B (39 ears, 55.71%).

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of hearing loss in children with cleft lip and palate at age 5 was high. Conductive hearing loss was the most common type. Therefore, audiological evaluation should be performed and followed until Eustachian tube function completely recovers.