OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of rapid maxillary expansion (RME) on conductive hearing loss and maxillary constriction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 25 subjects (15 girls and 10 boys, aged between 6 years 8 months to 8 years 2 months) with conductive hearing loss and maxillary constriction were studied. Audiogram, tympanogram, and video-otoscopy were used to investigate the anatomical and physiological modifications of the bony and muscular structure of the maxilla and the auditory apparatus. The records were taken before maxillary expansion (T0), after expansion (7-14 days; T1), and after the retention period (8 months after expansion; T2). RESULTS: After expansion, the audiometric records indicated an improvement in hearing levels for higher frequencies but not for lower ones. After the retention period, there was a functional improvement in all patients for all frequencies. The recovery of the tympanic membrane's elasticity occurred only after retention, as shown by the standard model tympanogram, which was still flat after expansion. CONCLUSIONS: The auditory function in patients with conductive hearing loss may be corrected through correction of the palatal anatomy, which influences the muscular function of the tubal ostia and allows a normal activity of the tympanic membrane and the auditory apparatus. Positive effects on conductive hearing loss are possible additional benefits of RME treatment, but this does not indicate that patients with conductive hearing loss without an accompanying maxillary constriction should consider this as a treatment approach.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of rapid maxillary expansion (RME) on conductive hearing loss and maxillary constriction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 25 subjects (15 girls and 10 boys, aged between 6 years 8 months to 8 years 2 months) with conductive hearing loss and maxillary constriction were studied. Audiogram, tympanogram, and video-otoscopy were used to investigate the anatomical and physiological modifications of the bony and muscular structure of the maxilla and the auditory apparatus. The records were taken before maxillary expansion (T0), after expansion (7-14 days; T1), and after the retention period (8 months after expansion; T2). RESULTS: After expansion, the audiometric records indicated an improvement in hearing levels for higher frequencies but not for lower ones. After the retention period, there was a functional improvement in all patients for all frequencies. The recovery of the tympanic membrane's elasticity occurred only after retention, as shown by the standard model tympanogram, which was still flat after expansion. CONCLUSIONS: The auditory function in patients with conductive hearing loss may be corrected through correction of the palatal anatomy, which influences the muscular function of the tubal ostia and allows a normal activity of the tympanic membrane and the auditory apparatus. Positive effects on conductive hearing loss are possible additional benefits of RME treatment, but this does not indicate that patients with conductive hearing loss without an accompanying maxillary constriction should consider this as a treatment approach.
Authors: Giovanni Felisati; Costanza Maria Meazzini; Cecilia Rosso; Liliana Colletti; Martina Foltran; Alberto Maria Saibene; Antonia Pisani; Elisa Stefanoni; Alberto Scotti Journal: Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol Date: 2021-12-02 Impact factor: 3.236
Authors: Fabrício Souza Landim; George Borba Freitas; Andreana Braga Malouf; Liana P Carvalho Studart; Nelson Studart Rocha; Emanuel Sávio de Souza Andrade; Antônio Figueiredo Caubi; José Rodrigues Laureano Filho; Emanuel Dias Oliveira E Silva Journal: Int J Med Sci Date: 2011-10-21 Impact factor: 3.738
Authors: Luca Cerritelli; Stavros Hatzopoulos; Andrea Catalano; Chiara Bianchini; Giovanni Cammaroto; Giuseppe Meccariello; Giannicola Iannella; Claudio Vicini; Stefano Pelucchi; Piotr Henryk Skarzynski; Andrea Ciorba Journal: J Clin Med Date: 2022-09-05 Impact factor: 4.964