Middle ear disease in the cleft palate infant: its effect on speech and language development.

A study of the effect of screening and treatment of middle ear effusions in cleft palate children throughout the first four years of life gave a modest reduction in the incidence of persistent effusions at four years, but prevented tympanic perforations and attic retractions. There was no demonstrable advantage in terms of speech, and an insignificant advantage in terms of language development.