The Hearing Impaired Child- Pattern of Tympanograms in Otitis Media with Effusion

Background: Otitis media with effusion (OME) is a common cause of treatable hearing loss in children. Tympanometry is an objective tool for assessment of this condition. Of the various tympanometric curves, Type B flat curve is commonly associated with OME. The study aims to determine the various curves associated with OME and find the commonest one.Objective: To determine the frequency of various types of curves obtained on tympanogram in children suffering from otitis media with effusion.Material and Methods: This descriptive cross sectional study involving 350 ears with OME was conducted in ENT Department of Medical Teaching Institution, Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar. Non-probability convenience sampling technique was used to select children with OME.History, Clinical examination, otoscopy, audiometry and tympanometry were used to diagnose OME. Tympanometry was performed to determine the type of curves using Jerger classification. The frequency of the various types of curves obtained was calculated.Results: The age range of the patient was 3-15 years with mean age of 8.25±3.22 years. The male: female ratio was of 1.22:1. Type B curves were the commonest inall age groups. The overall frequency for Type B curve in the study was 81.4%. Chi square test showed that Type B tympanogram significantly occurred in the lower age groups ranging from 3 to 11 years.Conclusion: Type B tympanogram is the commonest type of curve in children suffering from otitis media with effusion. It is significantly associated with OME in the younger age groups as compared to Type C & Type A. Therefore it can be used for in the diagnosis and follow-up of younger children with OME.Keywords: Audiometry, Glue, Otitis Media with Effusion, Paediatrics, Tympanometry.