[Influence of cleftpalate on middle ear conduction and eustachian function].

OBJECTIVE

To explore the influence and its degree of cleftpalate on middle ear conduction and eustachian function.

METHOD: 41 cleftpalate patients (82 ears) were performed with otopharyngeal examinations, form of the ostium pharyngeum tubae auditivae observations and acoustic impedance measurements. The results were compared with healthy persons of normal hearing.

RESULT: In the cases with cleftpalate, tympanic membrane pathological change incidence was 89.0% (73/82), ostium pharyngeum tubae auditivae of cracked shape was 59.5% (25/42), abnormal tympanogram was 83.1% (64/77), the negative rate of stapedius muscle reflex was 84.4% (65/77). There are significant different in comparison with healthy persons. In synthetic analyses, the rate of secretory otitis media with varied degree in the cleftpalate cases was 74.0% (57/77).

CONCLUSION

There was a high incidence of middle ear pathological change and secretory otitis media in the cleftpalate patients. This high incidence was due to susceptivity of the nasopharynx on the infection, weak strength of the dilator tubae eustachii and the deformed shape of the ostium pharyngeum tubae auditivae.