AUDIOGRAM PATTERN IN HEALED CHRONIC OTITIS MEDIA

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine type and degree of hearing loss in healed Chronic Otitis Media (COM) patients.

Materials and methods: It was a prospective analytical study done over a period of 8 months (1st Jan to 31st August 2018) at Nepalgunj Medical College, Nepalgunj. Patient diagnosed with healed COM underwent audiogram and result was noted in proforma.

Results: There were 542 ears studied in 386 patients. Most of these patients (35.2%) were 21-40 years of age. Overall 77.8% of ears were part of bilateral COM disease. Major symptoms were hearing loss (71.2%) and tinnitus (58.6%). More than three fourth (76.0%) had past history of ear discharge. Thinned tympanic membrane and myringosclerosis patch were common findings. Out of 352 ears with abnormal audiogram, conductive hearing loss was seen in 59.3% and sensorineural in 21.3%. Low frequency involvement was more seen in younger age group (<40 years) while higher frequency was seen in older age group (>40 years).

Conclusion: Healed COM is common in middle adulthood stage and mostly associated with COM in other ear. Hearing loss and tinnitus are major complaints and more than three fourth has past history of ear discharge.

Keywords: chronic otitis media, Healed, Hearing loss, Tympanosclerosis