High frequency hearing following otitis media with effusion in childhood.

78 children had been treated for secretory otitis media at the age of 4.4, on the average. At the age of 18.6, their hearing was checked by means of conventional and high frequency (HF) audiometry. In the conventional range, the average hearing level was nearly normal and no air-bone gap could be found. In HF-range, the average hearing level decreased clearly but the HF-hearing level was significantly affected only in cases in which an air-bone gap exceeding 40 dB and more had existed during the active secretory otitis.