PURPOSE: to describe the auditory characteristics of subjects with operated cleft lip-palate (CLP) referred to otologic surgery and compare groups regarding the type and degree of hearing loss and tympanometric curve. METHODS: analysis of 150 records, of both genders, about 4-year old, with CLP and referred to otologic surgery, were divided in 3 groups (1- Ventilation tube (VT), 2- Timpanoplasty 3- Timpanomastoidectomy). Aspects were analyzed according to an auditory interview, pure-tone test and immitance measures. RESULTS: as for the surgical reference, VT showed higher prevalence of bilateral surgery (86%), which has not occurred with the other groups. In auditory interview 83% of the subjects had complaints on hearing, especially hearing loss - 64% (p<0.05 among groups 1 and 2, 1 and 3). The most recurrent hearing loss type was bilateral conductive (56%) followed by unilateral (35%) (p<0.05 among groups 1 and 2; 1 and 3), 41% had middle unilateral hearing loss and 20% had moderate bilateral loss, (p<0.05 among the 3 groups). Bilateral type B was the most frequent regarding the tympanometric curve (39%) -p<0.05 among the three groups. CONCLUSION: most of the subjects showed some kind of alteration on the auditory interview, in pure tone test and immitance measures. Many of these alterations were compatible with the middle ear pathology, with middle bilateral conductive hearing loss, regardless of the surgical reference.
Cleft Palate; Cleft Lip; Otitis Media; Audiology
