Long-term audiologic and speech developmental outcomes following ventilation tube insertion in children with otitis...

Cleft palate (CP) with otitis media with effusion (OME) often cause persistent conductive hearing loss, increasing the risk of long-term speech-language delay and social difficulties if untreated. While ventilation tube (VT) insertion is recommended for recurrent or persistent OME with significant hearing loss, its long-term benefits in CP remain unclear.

To address the long-term effects of VT insertion on audiologic and speech-language development in children with CP and OME.

In this non-randomized controlled study, 154 children aged 1-4 years with CP and OME were enrolled. The VT group (n = 74) received VT insertion during or after palatoplasty, while the conservative group (n = 80) underwent palatoplasty alone. Assessments at 3, 6, 12, 18, 24, and 36 months included air-bone gap, tympanogram, speech recognition in quiet/noise (SRS, SRN), speech clarity, and developmental scale scores (MUSS, SIR, MCDI).

Over 36 months, the VT group showed greater improvement in air-bone gap and tympanogram normalization (q < 0.001) and higher speech clarity from 18 months (q < 0.05). MUSS, SIR, and MCDI scores were superior from 12 months onward.

Early VT insertion with palatoplasty provides sustained hearing and speech-language benefits, supporting its integration into management for CP with OME.