Infant tympanometry: differential results by race.

Black (N = 63) and White (N = 74) infants, ages 6-13 months, were screened by tympanometry for signs of middle ear dysfunction. More White infants (57%) than Black (33%) failed initial screening (p less than .01). Retest of initial failures after a minimum 6-week interval showed an overall reduction in failure rates, but the significant (p less than .05) racial effect was still obtained. Implications of these findings for the clinician are discussed.