Hearing Results Post Tympanoplasty: Our Experience with Adults at the KKR ENT Hospital, India

Chronic suppurative otitis media is often associated with some degree of hearing loss. Tympanomastoid surgery is considered effective in controlling infection and preventing recurrence. However, opinions differ with regards the post-operative hearing results. This study aims to assess the hearing results, and also ascertain the effects of some variables on hearing in adult patients with chronic suppurative otitis media after primary tympanoplasty. This was a retrospective review of the clinical records of adult patients with chronic suppurative otitis media, who had primary tympanoplasty at the KKR ENT Hospital and Research Institute in Chennai (India), between 1st June and 30th September, 2011. A total of 26 adult patients with a mean age of 35.85 years (SD 14.775) were studied. There were 16 males (61.54 %) and 10 females (38.46 %). The commonest presenting symptoms were ear discharge (80.8 %) and hearing loss (76.9 %); and the mean duration of symptom was 8.52 years (SD 8.599). The overall mean pre-operative pure tone average was 49.58 dB (SD 18.608), while the overall mean post-operative pure tone average was 37.38 dB (SD 17.837). The difference between the overall mean pre- and post-operative pure tone average (hearing gain) was 12.192 dB (SD 12.924); and this was found to be statistically significant (p < 0.05). Multiple linear regression model showed that only increasing age was significantly associated with increasing mean post-operative pure tone average. This study found primary tympanoplasty effective in improving hearing results in adults with chronic suppurative otitis media even in those with advanced ossicular lesions.