Otoscopy Compared With Tympanometry: An Evalluation of the Accuracy of Simple Otoscopy

ABSTRACT

Background:Although otoscopy has been shown to compare favourably with results of tympanometry; the actual diagnostic value of otoscopy for otitis media with effusion (OME) has not been evaluated in Nigeria. The study was aimed at evaluating the sensitivity; specificity and predictive value of otoscopy in the diagnosis of OME as compared with tympanometry. Method: It was a prospective hospital-based; descriptive cross-sectional study in which the results of simple otoscopy were compared with results of the tympanometry of 82 ears of children aged between 6 months and 12 years; who presented to the Otolaryngology clinics of the UNTH Enugu with symptoms of obstructive adenoid enlargement. Results: Simple otoscopy produced 84.4agreement with tympanometry in detecting OME. The agreement was better in older children than the younger ones (P