Analyzing the Alterations in Middle Ear Wideband Energy Absorption Following Cleft Palate Corrective Surgery

Abstract

Objectives: Children with cleft palate may experience hearing problems, including middle ear disorders, which require careful monitoring to ensure successful treatment. To diagnose these hearing disorders, appropriate tools are necessary. While traditional single-frequency tympanometry has been commonly used as a practical tool for diagnosing middle ear problems, the effectiveness of this method has been questioned in some cases. Recently, newer tests of wideband tympanometry have been developed and may be able to provide a more comprehensive assessment of middle ear conditions in children with cleft palate. Methods: To evaluate the effectiveness of wideband tympanometry, this study analyzed 14 young children who were scheduled to undergo cleft palate repair surgery. The children’s ages ranged from 4 to 24 months. The study involved two evaluations, one before the surgery and another one month after the surgery. Different wideband absorption parameters were analyzed using the paired t test and the Wilcoxon test. Results: The analysis of statistical data regarding tympanometric parameters before and after cleft palate surgery indicated a general enhancement in the condition of the middle ear. The study found that the middle ear pressure decreased, the absorption percentage increased, and admittance increased across all five frequencies, which is consistent with our initial assumptions. Discussion: The results confirm that wideband tympanometry can be an effective approach to detecting changes in the middle ear after cleft palate repair surgery in children. The use of more sophisticated parameters and evaluations at various frequencies provides a more complete picture of the child’s middle ear condition, potentially replacing single-frequency tympanometry assessments in the future.

Keywords

• wideband tympanometry
• cleft palate
• middle ear absorbance
• tympanometry