A Longitudinal Study of Hearing and Middle Ear Status of Individuals with Cleft Palate with and without Additional Malformations/Syndromes. (September 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Flynn, Traci; Persson, Christina; Moller, Claes; Lohmander, Anette; Magnusson, Lennart
• Is Part Of: Cleft palate-craniofacial journal. Volume 51:Number 5(2014)
• Page Start: 94
• Page End: 101
• Publication Date: 2014-09
• Subjects: isolated cleft palate -- syndromes -- additional malformations -- hearing -- middle ear status; Cleft palate -- Periodicals; Skull -- Abnormalities -- Periodicals; Cranial manipulation -- Periodicals; Skull -- Abnormalities -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Face -- Abnormalities -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Fente palatine -- Périodiques; Crâne -- Malformations -- Périodiques; Manipulation crânienne -- Périodiques; Crâne -- Malformations -- Chirurgie -- Périodiques; Face -- Malformations -- Chirurgie -- Périodiques; Cleft palate; Cranial manipulation; Face -- Abnormalities -- Surgery; Skull -- Abnormalities; Skull -- Abnormalities -- Surgery; Cleft Lip; Cleft Palate; Facial Bones -- abnormalities; Skull -- abnormalities; Periodicals; Periodicals; Periodicals; 617.522
• DOI: 10.1597/12-288
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1055-6656

Abstract

Objective: To describe and compare the middle ear status and hearing sensitivity in adolescence with isolated cleft palate plus additional malformations and/or syndromes with those with only an isolated cleft palate. Design: Retrospective and longitudinal. Two groups of individuals with isolated cleft palate were compared. Participants: A cohort of individuals born over 4 years in the western region of Sweden. The cohort was divided into one group with isolated cleft palate (n = 31; ICP) and one group with isolated cleft palate plus additional malformations and/or syndromes (n = 37; ICP+). Methods: Middle ear status and hearing thresholds were collected from the medical records at 7, 10, 13, and 16 years of age, examined, and compared within and between groups over time. Results: The ICP+ group demonstrated a significantly higher prevalence of abnormal middle ear status and elevated hearing thresholds as compared with the ICP group. As the individuals aged, the prevalence of abnormal middle ear status decreased. The hearing levels in both groups decreased in the low to middle frequencies as individuals aged; however, the hearing in the high frequencies did not. Conclusions: Individuals with cleft palate need to be followed routinely for middle ear status and hearing thresholds to ensure optimal audiological rehabilitation, with particular attention to those with additional malformations and/or syndromes.