Diagnostic procedures for pediatric otitis media with effusion / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the fluid in middle ear of otitis media with effusion (OME) by tympanometry, hearing threshold and in order to an effective and promptly way for treatment.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty Patients (75 ears) with OME were collected since January 2007 to June 2008. The history of hearing loss, hearing threshold, CT results and the final fluid in the middle ear during operation were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There were 28 males and 12 females enrolled in this study. The average age of the patients was 78 months. All the 75 ears were with type "B" according to tympanometry test. For all the patients myringotomy was performed and the ventilation tubes were placed in 23 ears. Among all the ears, there were fluid in 62 ears (82.7%) and no fluid in 13 ears (17.3%). There was correlation between the levels of hearing loss, CT results and the fluid in middle ear (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Tympanometry and hearing threshold results should have a better sensitivity and specificity rates for diagnosis of OME.</p>

Influence of obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome in children on hearing problem / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the effects of obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome on hearing among children.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and forty three apnea children proved with overnight polysomnography received pure tone audiometry, acoustic impedance test, and lateral nasopharyngeal airway X-ray. Hearing threshold level and blood oxygen's saturation, apnea hypopnea index were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Among the 127 cases,63 cases had type C or B tympanograms, and 33 of them had lifted hearing threshold level. The remaining 64 cases had normal hearing and tympanograms. It was found correlation between the A/N ratio and blood oxygen's saturation, and no correlation between the A/N ratio and average of hearing threshold level. There was no correlation between AHI and average of hearing threshold level of each group. Hearing level can be improved after adenoidectomy or adenotonsillectomy.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The upper airway obstruction due to adenotonsillar enlargement is common in children. It also affects the middle-ear impedance. Although short -term and mild degree of hypoxemia has few influence on hearing threshold level, it may affect cochlear function.</p>