Objective: To evaluate the fluid in middle ear of otitis media with effusion (OME) by tympanometry, hearing threshold and in order to an effective and promptly way for treatment.
Methods: Forty Patients (75 ears) with OME were collected since January 2007 to June 2008. The history of hearing loss, hearing threshold, CT results and the final fluid in the middle ear during operation were analyzed.
Results: There were 28 males and 12 females enrolled in this study. The average age of the patients was 78 months. All the 75 ears were with type "B" according to tympanometry test. For all the patients myringotomy was performed and the ventilation tubes were placed in 23 ears. Among all the ears, there were fluid in 62 ears (82.7%) and no fluid in 13 ears (17.3%). There was correlation between the levels of hearing loss, CT results and the fluid in middle ear (P < 0.05).
Conclusions: Tympanometry and hearing threshold results should have a better sensitivity and specificity rates for diagnosis of OME.