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

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.