Int. Adv. Otol. 2011; 7(1) 4-8

The Value of Multifrequency Tympanometry in The Management of Otitis Media With Effusion.
Kerem Ozturk,  Sercan Gode, Fatih Ogut, Cem Bilgen, Tayfun Kirazlı.
Ege University Medical School, Department of Otolaryngology, Izmir, Turkey. sercangode@yahoo.com

Background: There is little evidence about the value of multifrequency tympanometry (MFT) in children with otitis media with effusion (OME).
Purpose: To evaluate the diagnostic value of the ear resonance frequency (RF) and 226 Hz traditional tympanometry (TT) among children with OME.
Research design: Cross-sectional controlled study.
Study sample: 52 ears of 35 patients with OME and 50 ears of 25 normal controls.
Intervention: Sweep frequency MFT and TT were performed for patient and control groups.
Data collection and analysis: Transtympanic aspiration was performed in diseased group. Characteristic of effusion was noted as serous or mucoid. Analyzed by t-test and ROC curve.
Results: Mean peak static acoustic admittance (Ytm) value of patient and control groups were 0.25 ml and 0.52 ml (p<0.01); and mean RF value were 570 Hz and 1043 Hz respectively (p<0.01). Mean peak Ytm value of mucoid and serous groups were 0.14 ml and 0.34 ml (p<0.01); and mean RF value were 478 Hz and 643 Hz respectively (p<0.05).
Conclusions: MFT was effective in differentiating normal ears from ears with OME. RF values below 650 Hz were highly specific in the diagnosis of OME. 226 Hz peak Ytm was better than MFT for differentiating mucoid OME from serous OME.