Cleft palate and otitis media with effusion : management and hearing outcomes

Otitis media with effusion is common in children with cleft palate because of persistent Eustachian tube dysfunction. It can lead to conductive hearing loss, which may affect language development. Regular otologic and audiologic monitoring, tailored to the child's age and level of cooperation, is therefore necessary....

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✦ The floor

Discussion

Signed responses from readers of the wire.

✦ Clinical Takeaway ✦

Audiologists working with pediatric cleft palate patients should ensure regular hearing monitoring given the near-universal risk of Eustachian tube dysfunction and conductive hearing loss (reduced sound transmission through the middle ear); this review reinforces existing practice rather than changing it.

✦ Why It Matters ✦

Children with cleft palate face a disproportionate burden of conductive hearing loss that, if unmanaged, can impair speech and language development — making audiologic surveillance a critical component of multidisciplinary care.

✦ Key Points ✦

01Cleft palate is strongly associated with Eustachian tube dysfunction and otitis media with effusion (fluid behind the eardrum).
02Conductive hearing loss from OME can hinder speech and language development in affected children.
03The review covers surgical and non-surgical management options (e.g., ventilation tubes) and resulting hearing outcomes.
04Early and sustained audiological monitoring is emphasised as part of multidisciplinary cleft care.
05Published in Revue Médicale Suisse (Swiss Medical Review).

✦ Claims & Evidence ✦

ClaimEvidenceSupport

Children with cleft palate have a high prevalence of otitis media with effusion due to Eustachian tube dysfunction.

studysupported

Surgical management (e.g., grommet/ventilation tube insertion) improves hearing outcomes in cleft palate children with OME.

studypartially supported

✦ Research metadata ✦

PMID: 42817530
DOI: 10.53738/REVMED.2026.22.977.49088.
Journal: Revue Médicale Suisse
Publication type: review
Evidence level: 5
Population: Children with cleft palate and otitis media with effusion
Intervention: Management strategies for otitis media with effusion in cleft palate children (surgical and conservative)

Primary outcomes

Hearing outcomes following management of otitis media with effusion; Impact of Eustachian tube dysfunction on conductive hearing loss

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