A child born with a cleft may sufer intermittent hearing loss usually as a result of glue ear.Reduced attention span, repeated questions, deterioration of quality of speech and in work standards may well be signs of hearing loss.

Extra encouragement may be needed if a cleft child is to talk in front of the class, to participate in debates, read aloud or take part in video filming. In some cases special consideration may need to be made when the child is a candidate for oral examinations.