title: A longitudinal study of hearing and middle ear status in individuals with UCLP.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To define the age when the higher prevalence of abnormal middle ear dissipates in individuals with cleft lip and palate and to investigate how this may affect hearing sensitivity over time.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective and prospective cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three groups of individuals with unilateral cleft lip and palate from the same cleft center: 1) a group of individuals followed longitudinally from 1 to 5 years of age (n = 22), 2) another group of individuals followed longitudinally from 7 to 16 years of age (n = 24), and 3) a group which encompasses young adults between 20 and 31 years of age (n = 26).
  
  
  METHODS
  Abnormal middle ear status and hearing sensitivity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of abnormal middle ear status decreases as the individuals within the 3 groups age from 89% at age 1 year to 10% in young adulthood. Hearing statistically improved as children became older up to 13 years of age and then worsened in the high frequencies between 16 and 20 to 31 years of age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a high prevalence of abnormal middle ear status in individuals with cleft lip and palate. This higher prevalence of abnormal middle ear status may lead to poorer high-frequency hearing, which could potentially lead to challenges in academics and difficulties understanding speech in social situations. Further investigation into these, the prevalence of abnormal middle ear status and hearing in comparison to a control group is warranted.
authors.affiliation: *Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Division of Audiology, the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg; †Department of Audiology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg; and ‡Division of Speech and Language Pathology, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Traci
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Flynn
authors.forename: Anette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lohmander
mesh_terms: D000158:Acoustic Impedance Tests; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001309:Auditory Threshold; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002971:Cleft Lip / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004432:Ear, Middle / Q000002:abnormalities*; D005260:Female; D006309:Hearing; D006311:Hearing Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D010897:Pitch Discrimination; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult