Otoacoustic Emissions in Children with Long-Term Middle Ear Disease

Otoacoustic emissions (OAEs) evaluate the functional status of the cochlea. Repeated otitis media (OM) can cause changes in the peripheral structures of the auditory system, and, in this way, middle ear infection may irreversibly damage the middle ear, or even the cochlea.

To analyze the results of transiently evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAEs) and distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) in individuals with a history of OM.

Participants with 8 to 16 years of schooling were split into two groups: a control group (CG) of 50 subjects who had no history of otological disease and an experimental group (EG) of 50 subjects who had a history of recurrent otitis in childhood and had consequently undergone myringotomy to insert bilateral ventilation tubes. All children underwent basic audiological assessment (tonal audiometry, speech audiometry, and immittance testing) and otoacoustic emission testing (TEOAEs and DPOAEs).

There were no significant differences between the groups when audiometrically tested via air and bone conduction. OAEs were found in all CG subjects. For the EG, there were no TEOAE responses in 17 ears and no DPOAEs in nine ears; response amplitudes were lower at all frequencies. The emission level and the signal-to-noise ratio were statistically different between the two groups, and OAEs in the EG were statistically smaller compared to the GC.

In the EG, responses were more likely to be absent and were of statistically smaller amplitude compared to the CG. A history of repeated OM apparently interferes with the generation and transmission of TEOAEs and DPOAEs.