Long-term otologic features of cleft palate patients.

In 113 patients, 58 with both a cleft lip and a cleft palate, and 55 with a cleft palate, the otopathologic features and hearing impairments have been examined to evaluate the long-term results. Chronic otitis media was found in only 3% of the ears, and cholesteatoma was found in only 1%. A hearing loss of more than 30 dB was found in 6% of 6-year-old patients, but the frequency was reduced to 2% in 15-year-old patients. These results are favorable in comparison with the recent reports of serous otitis media in other groups of patients.