Can Wideband Tympanometry Predict the Prognosis of Otitis Media With Effusion?

Background and objectives: This study aims to evaluate the capacity of wideband tympanometry (WBT) in predicting the prognosis of otitis media with effusion (OME).

Subjects and methods: Sixty-one ears with effusion and 30 healthy ears of children were enrolled. The patients were followed up monthly using WBT. After the completion of measurements, the ears were separated into four groups according to the duration of recovery; Group 1: Good prognosis (≤1-month, n=18), Group 2: Worse prognosis (>1-month, n=29), Group 3: Surgical (no recovery, n=14), and Group 4: Control (healthy ears, n=30). Tympanometric peak pressure (TPP), resonance frequency (RF), and absorbance levels were compared within and between the groups.

Results: The TPP and RF values of the study group were lower than those of the controls (p<0.001). The ears with OME had lower absorbance measures than the controls at all frequencies; the differences were significant at 250, 500, and 1,000 Hz (p<0.001). However, at 2,000 Hz, the absorbance levels of the ears with OME were similar with those of the control group only in the good prognosis group (p>0.05). The receiver-operating characteristic analysis revealed that absorbance measures over 0.237 and 0.311 at 1,000 Hz and 2,000 Hz, respectively, have sensitivities and specificities over 70% for prediction of good prognosis, and the calculated odd ratio for these measures were 6 (p<0.05).

Conclusions: WBT measurement is promising in predicting the recovery of OME in children.