E Vartiainen1. 1. Department of Otolaryngology, University of Kuopio, Finland.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine the incidence of otitis media with effusion (OME) among children with bilateral congenital or early-onset hearing impairment (CEHI) and to assess whether the diagnosis of OME had any effect on the detection of CEHI. METHODS: The study population consisted of all patients diagnosed in a Finnish university hospital between 1976 and 1995 as having CEHI (> 25 dB, 0.5-4 kHz, in the better hearing ear). Early-onset hearing impairments were defined as losses attributed to perinatal or neonatal complications. Otitis media with effusion was assigned when asymptomatic middle ear effusion had lasted at least 2 months and tympanocentesis had yielded mucous effusion. RESULTS: A total of 184 child patients with CEHI were identified. Of these, OME was diagnosed and treated in 28 (15%) patients. Of the patients with OME, diagnosis of CEHI was made before the occurrence of OME in 7 (25%) and at the same time in 10 (36%) but was delayed at least 6 months after the treatment of OME in 11 (39%) patients. CONCLUSION: It is suggested that all children undergoing ventilation tube placement should have age-appropriate hearing examination to exclude coexisting sensorineural hearing loss.
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine the incidence of otitis media with effusion (OME) among children with bilateral congenital or early-onset hearing impairment (CEHI) and to assess whether the diagnosis of OME had any effect on the detection of CEHI. METHODS: The study population consisted of all patients diagnosed in a Finnish university hospital between 1976 and 1995 as having CEHI (> 25 dB, 0.5-4 kHz, in the better hearing ear). Early-onset hearing impairments were defined as losses attributed to perinatal or neonatal complications. Otitis media with effusion was assigned when asymptomatic middle ear effusion had lasted at least 2 months and tympanocentesis had yielded mucous effusion. RESULTS: A total of 184 childpatients with CEHI were identified. Of these, OME was diagnosed and treated in 28 (15%) patients. Of the patients with OME, diagnosis of CEHI was made before the occurrence of OME in 7 (25%) and at the same time in 10 (36%) but was delayed at least 6 months after the treatment of OME in 11 (39%) patients. CONCLUSION: It is suggested that all children undergoing ventilation tube placement should have age-appropriate hearing examination to exclude coexisting sensorineural hearing loss.