Abstract

350 children treated for cleft palate at the children's Hospital of Cape Town, have been followed by periodic examination at the Audiological Unit of the Groote Schuur Hospital over a period of 7 years. The incidence of middle ear disease has been found to be over 60%. Its frequency and severity has been assessed and the progress of the hearing loss in individual cases during childhood years has been followed in many instances. The causation is discussed and methods of management described. The incidence is correlated with the type of operation performed for cleft repair and with the age at which it was done.