Wideband reflectance associated with otitis media in infants and children with cleft palate.

Wideband reflectance (WBR) is a method of middle-ear analysis that may provide more information and provide a more detailed look at the middle-ear system than tympanometry. WBR has the potential to improve efficiency of newborn hearing screening programs by reducing time needed to accurately diagnose middle-ear status. This prospective study compares wideband reflectance results with 226-Hz and 1000-Hz tympanometry and distortion product otoacoustic emissions in a group of infants and children with cleft lip and palate, who have not been treated with myringotomy or tubes. Results are also compared to normative data in children of similar ages using the same instrument and methods. Results demonstrate that wideband reflectance showed the highest level of agreement (88%) with DPOAE results.