Chinese children with cleft lip/palate : factors associated with hearing disorders

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the hearing status of Chinese children with nonsyndromic cleft lip/palate (NSCL/P) by investigating factors associated with hearing loss and comparing results with earlier studies in Western countries. The case history profiles and audiological data of 148 Chinese children with NSCL/P who attended the Cleft Lip and Palate Clinic Center in Beijing Stomatology Hospital from July 2012 to September 2013 were reviewed. The audiological status of the participants was analyzed based on their examination results for pure tone audiometry, tympanometry and acoustic reflex thresholds. Factors including age, gender, cleft type, residential locality and school achievements were examined in relation to hearing health status. The results revealed that 17%of participants had current hearing impairment. Age, gender, residential locality and school achievements were found to have no relationship with the type and severity of hearing loss. Cleft type was found not to be related to type of hearing loss. However, children with cleft lip showed a significantly lower severity of hearing impairment than the cleft palate or cleft lip and palate groups. Racial factors were considered to be a major contributing factor accounting for the discrepancies between the current results and Western studies.