Audiometric comparison in children with vent tub

Abstract

Introduction: Otitis media with effusion (OME) is one of the most common diseases in the childhood. Clinical manifestations vary from speech damage to learning deficit. The diagnosis must be made, mainly, through the physical exam and tympanometry. The treatment of OME may be clinical or surgical, with a vent tube. Objective: To evaluate the follow-up of patients with OME submitted to the placing of vent tube and compare the pre- and postoperative audiometric findings. Method: Children with OME and failure in the clinical treatment were submitted to tympanometry and placing of vent tube. The audiometry obtained in the postoperative period was compared with that requested during follow-up, between six and twelve months after surgery, subsequent to the tube extrusion. Results: The Speech Recognition Threshold exceeded an average value of 28.75 dB to 13 dB. Conclusions: The children submitted to the placement of the vent tube presented a significant audiometric improvement after the surgery. Since the data in this study were obtained from objective exams, we believe this is an excellent way to evaluate the surgical results of patients submitted to the placement of the vent tube.

Keywords

• Otitis media
• Audiometry
• Surgery