ABSTRACT
To determine the effectiveness of myringotomy and grommet insertion [MGI] in patients with otitis media and effusion [OME], who failed medical treatment. Mahayel Private Hospital, Aseer Region, Saudi Arabia. Retrospective study. Records of eighty-six children [50 boys and 36 girls], aged 1-12 years, who had MGI for chronic OME between January 2005 and December 2010 were reviewed. Patients' data included: presenting complaints, indications for MGI, ear examination, hearing threshold and tympanometry. The age ranged from 1 to 12 years, 62 [72.1%] were less than 6 years old. Hearing and academic performance improved after grommet insertion. The study revealed that OME occurred mostly in preschool age. Hearing loss was noticed in 64 [74.4%], impaired social interaction in 37 [43%], difficulty in learning in 15 [17.4%] and delayed speech in 11 [12.8%]. The leading presenting complaint is hearing loss. MGI is indicated if medical treatment failed. Hearing threshold improves significantly postoperatively