Clinico-Audio-Radiological and Operative Evaluation of Otitis Media with Effusion

Abstract

Aims: Otitis media with effusion (OME) is a common cause of hearing and speech impairment in children. The correlation of the clinical, audiological, radiological, and intraoperative findings was carried out so as to make a protocol for early diagnosis and management of OME. It will help prevent the more serious sequelae of OME such as tympanosclerosis, chronic adhesive otitis media, and even chronic suppurative otitis media. Methods: 300 clinically diagnosed patients of OME were studied prospectively. Thereafter, patients underwent impedance audiometry, pure tone audiometry, and X-ray soft tissue nasopharynx for adenoids. The patients were given adequate medical treatment for 3 to 6 months, and the patients who did not respond to the treatment were subjected to adenoidectomy with ear examination under magnification and myringotomy with or without grommet insertion. Results: The mean age at presentation was 5.96 years. Only 32% patients gave a history of hearing loss. About 90% patients had mouth breathing, followed by snoring (84%). About 79% ears had abnormal tympanic membrane appearance and mobility; 65.5% had an abnormality on impedance audiometry; and 69.75% had an air condition threshold level of >20 dB. About 78% patients had either Grade III or Grade IV Adenoid hypertrophy. Adenoidectomy was done in all 300 patients with myringotomy in 472 ears. Grommets were inserted in 365 ears. There was a significant reduction in mean air conduction threshold with an improvement of 8.0 dB and 7.5 dB in right and left ears, respectively at 2 months postoperatively. At 6 th month postoperative, the average improvement from baseline dropped to 6.0 dB in right ear and 5.5 dB in the left ear. Conclusion: OME is the most frequent causes of silent hearing impairment in young children which needs a close vigil. All suspected children (on clinical and otoscopic findings) must be subjected to impedance audiometry and X-ray soft tissue nasopharynx for adenoids. After the failure of medical treatment for 3-6 months, the child should be subjected to myringotomy with adenoidectomy in the same sitting. Whenever a child is planned for tonsil or adenoid surgery, he/she must undergo evaluation for OME beforehand so that the child's hearing risk can be simultaneously taken care of in the same sitting.