Why do children with cleft palate get glue ear?
When there is a cleft in the palate, hearing problems can arise due to the muscles in the soft palate not functioning correctly. These muscles move when we yawn, eat or swallow and they pull open the Eustachian tube to allow passage of air into the middle ear. If this does not happen then the Eustachian tube’s function is impaired and hearing problems can occur. It is not known how many children with a cleft palate this may affect. The Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) specialist on the cleft team will supervise this and monitor your child’s progress, advising on treatment.
