Timing Matters? Investigating the Impact of Age at Palatal Closure on Hearing in Filipino Individuals with Cleft Palate.

INTRODUCTION This study examined ear and hearing outcomes in Filipino individuals with a cleft palate with/without a cleft lip and investigated whether age at palatal closure is associated with the presence or absence of hearing loss.

METHODS Participants were individuals with a repaired cleft palate with/without a cleft lip recruited from the Tebow CURE hospital (Davao, Philippines). An anamnestic interview assessed the presence of hearing-related symptoms. Otoscopic examination and pure-tone audiometry were performed bilaterally to evaluate external ear anatomy and hearing sensitivity, respectively. A binary logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine whether age at palatal closure (in years) predicted the presence or absence of hearing loss.

RESULTS The study included of 52 participants (21 males, 31 females; mean age = 17.8 years). One-third (33.3%) demonstrated hearing loss (pure-tone average ≥ 25 dB HL). Nearly half (42.3%) reported a previous experience of tinnitus, with 9.0% describing it as bothersome. Age at palatal closure was not a significant predictor of the presence or absence of hearing loss.

CONCLUSION While age at palatal closure was not significantly associated with hearing loss, the study highlights the prevalence of ear and hearing problems, including tinnitus, among Filipino individuals with a cleft palate with/without a cleft lip. These findings emphasize the urgent need for improved access to ear and hearing care services in this population.