Influence of palatal morphology on hearing in patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate - A multicenter pilot study

• Applicant: Dr. Sarah Stern, since 3/2022
• Subject Area: Dentistry, Oral Surgery
• Term: from 2019 to 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 427720492

Hearing is an important factor in the development of a child's cognitive abilities. It is also known that impaired hearing is more common in patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate. This is caused by otitis with effusion that frequently occurs in children, which is caused by a dysfunction of the auditory tuba. It is currently assumed that the tube morphology, the course of the tube and the type and timing of the surgical palate closure have the most significant influence on tube function. For patients without cleft lip and palate, however, it has been proven that high and narrow palate shapes are the cause of disturbances in the function of the auditory tube and thus in hearing ability. The relationship between palatal morphology and hearing in cleft patients has not been investigated.It is therefore the aim of the pilot study to investigate the relationship between palatal morphology and the occurrence of hearing loss in patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate. The resulting data will be used primarily to calculate case numbers for a clinical intervention study, investigating the effects of maxillofacial dilation measures on hearing. Secondarily, the data from the pilot study and the follow-up study will be used to - to identify risk factors, - to be able to perform visual risk stratification on patients,- to derive consequences for orthodontic therapy.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Ehemaliger Antragsteller: Dr. Marlon Strosinski, until 3/2022