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 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.