In a recent study it was found out that long-term audiological and otological results in children with and without cleft palate who were treated for otitis media with effusion (OME) were similar. The need for retympanostomy was more in children with cleft palate.

This study was done to compare the long-term results between children with and without cleft palate treated with tympanostomy for OME.

In this study, ninety-five children with cleft palate were assigned in the study group, and ninety-seven children without cleft palate were assigned in the control group. They were followed-up till their maximum age was seven years. The audiological outcomes were evaluated at the seven years of age, and the otological outcomes were evaluated at the final assessment.

According to outcomes, retympanostomy was subjected to considerably more ears in the study group than the control group. Mean pure-tone average was 15.6 dB HL (study group) and 14.3 dB HL (control group).

It was concluded that audiological and otological results in both the study and control group were the same. The audiological prognosis was positive despite the cleft palate state.