Tympanometry as a predictor factor in the evolution of otitis media with effusion

BACKGROUND Otitis media with effusion (OME) is one of the most frequently met pathologies in small children. Long-term persistence of the liquid in the middle ear cavity correlates with the impairment in speech acquisition and poor results in school. AIM To evaluate the predictive value of impedancemetry in recovery of the normal middle ear status. METHODS 30 children (age 4 month-9 years) with OME were periodically monitored by means of tympanometry. The children were treated with the same treatment protocol for 7 days minimum and tympanometry was repeated after seven and fourteen days. After follow-up tympanometry at 7 days, children with abnormal middle ear condition were randomly allocated into two groups: one, which continued the same treatment for another 7 days and one group with no treatment for the next 7 days. RESULTS After 7 days, 64% of the patients had an improvement in tympanometry (type C tympanogram) and 10% had a complete resolution of the middle ear effusion (type A tympanogram). After 14 days, tympanometry was normal in 74% of the patients (53.9% rate of success in the no-treatment group). CONCLUSION Complete resolution of the middle ear effusion is obtained in various periods of time, depending on numerous factors, with an appropriate treatment. Tympanometry proved to be a good tool in predicting the length of the treatment.