Will my child have hearing problems due to their cleft palate?
Children born with cleft palates are at risk of hearing problems, therefore it is important that hearing be assessed early and then at regular intervals.
How will these hearing problems be picked up?
Children with cleft palates have more middle ear problems and this can affect their hearing, so that is why all cleft palate children have regular hearing tests.
How soon will my baby's hearing be tested, after birth?
Hearing can be assessed from birth and is usually done within the first five weeks of life. These early tests can usually only be conducted at specialised centres, including this hospital but later tests can be arranged through your Early Childhood/Baby Health Centre.
What will happen if my child's hearing is affected?
The specialised audiologists at the Cleft Palate Clinic can do a number of specialised tests and will provide information and guidance about ways of managing hearing loss if this is present. Satisfactory hearing is essential for the development of language and learning skills.
I don't want to travel all the way to the hospital for my child to just attend for a hearing test; can I have the test done locally?
Yes, hearing tests can be performed locally. However, the results must be forwarded to the Cleft Palate Clinic for review by the members of the team.