The effect of adenoid hypertrophy on hearing thresholds in children with otitis media with effusion

Otitis media with effusion is common middle ear mucosa disease that can cause hearing loss in children. Adenoid hypertrophy can cause recurrent acute otitis media in addition to otitis media with effusion as a result of eustachian tube dysfunction and primary infection focus. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of adenoid hypertrophy on the hearing threshold in children suffering from otitis media with effusion.

Children of school age with otitis media with effusion were included in the study. The size and location of the adenoid tissue were determined by examination with a flexible endoscope. Four adenoid size groups were determined according to the percentage of choanal closure. The coverage was 0-25% in the first group, 26-50% in the second group, 51-75% in the third group and 76-100% in the 4th group. The location of the adenoid tissue in the nasopharynx was divided into three groups. In group A, the adenoid tissue was not in contact with torus tubarius. In group B, the adenoid tissue was in contact with the torus tubarius but did not cover it. In group C, the adenoid tissue covered the torus tubarius completely. Bone and air conduction thresholds were determined using standard procedures. The statistical relationship between the size and location of adenoid tissue and the hearing thresholds was investigated.

The study was conducted with the 88 ears of 50 children aged 5-15 years. The median values of mean air conduction thresholds at 500 Hz, 1000 Hz, and 2000 Hz in the adenoid tissue size groups 1-4 were 22 dB HL, 20 dB HL, 15 dB HL, and 20 dB HL respectively. The median values of the mean air conduction thresholds were 20 dB HL, 20 dBHL and 18 dB HL in the adenoid location group A-C, respectively. No significant correlation was found between the groups (p:0.213) and the relevant hearing values (p:0.670). Type B tympanogram was identified in 46 ears and type C tympanogram in 42 ears. The mean hearing thresholds were significantly higher in the ears with a type B tympanogram in the otitis media with effusion cases. (P < 0.001).There was no significant correlation between the duration of effusion and the adenoid size (p:0.931), adenoid location (p:0.626) and hearing threshold (p:0.815).

We concluded that adenoid tissue size and location have no effect on hearing thresholds and the duration of effusion in otitis media with effusion. We suggest caution before deciding on adenoidectomy in otitis media with effusion cases. Adenoidectomy should not be performed in children over 4 years of age unless there is a definite indication such as nasal obstruction or chronic adenitis.