Hearing outcomes in children with cleft palate and referred newborn hearing screen

Objectives/Hypothesis To determine the prevalence of long-term hearing loss in patients with cleft palate who fail their universal newborn hearing screen. Study Design The study is a retrospective chart review from a tertiary pediatric center and tertiary children's hospital. Methods Newborns with cleft palate born between January 2002 and July 2012 were identified from a pediatric otolaryngology practice database. This cohort was then reduced to include only those patients who referred their universal newborn hearing screen. Postpressure equalization tube audiology results, follow-up audiology results, type of cleft, and comorbid conditions were collected for each patient who was both born with a cleft palate and referred their universal newborn hearing screen. Results A total of 317 newborns presented to the pediatric otolaryngology practice for cleft palate, with 89 (28%) having documented referred universal newborn hearing screen. At the time of data collection, 67 (75%) of 89 had normal hearing results, whereas 22 (25%) of 89 did not yet have normal hearing results. Fourteen patients had permanent hearing loss, and all 14 had a comorbid condition. Type of cleft and presence of a comorbid condition were correlated to hearing outcomes. Conclusions Newborns with cleft palate who refer their universal newborn hearing screen could postpone diagnostic hearing testing until after placement of pressure equalization tubes, unless there is a clue to permanent hearing loss such as a comorbid condition. Level of Evidence 4