AUDIOLOGIC PROFILE OF PRESCHOOL CHILDREN WITH ADENOID HYPERTROPHY AND HEARING LOSS

The aim of the study was to compare pre-treatment and post-treatment pure tone thresholds and tympanometric findings in preschool children with adenoid hypertrophy and hearing loss. This retrospective study included 63 children, 40 males (63.5%) and 23 females (36.5%), aged 4 to 6 years (mean age of 5.5±0.6 years). A total of 21 children (33.3%) had tympanostomy tube placement in addition to adenoidectomy or adenotonsillectomy. All children had mild conductive hearing loss. Pure tone average (PTA) was lower after adenoidectomy and adenotonsillectomy (p<0.0001). Type B tympanogram was predominant before treatment (62.7%), and type A tympanogram after treatment (81%). Preoperative mean PTA in children with adenoidectomy was 28 dB HL and in children with adenotonsillectomy was 27 dB HL. In both subgroups postoperative mean PTA was 16 dB HL. In children with adenoid hypertrophy and conductive hearing loss, hearing thresholds after adenoidectomy or adenotonsillectomy are significantly lower than preoperative hearing thresholds.