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Tympanometry in 2-year-old children
Insights
Screening tympanometry revealed high rates of middle ear effusion in 2-year-olds. Early detection is key, as spontaneous recovery from secretory otitis is common in this age group.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Otolaryngology
- Public Health
Background:
- Middle ear effusion (MEE) and tubal dysfunction are common in young children.
- Prevalence and risk factors for MEE in 2-year-olds require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the incidence of middle ear pressure abnormalities and MEE in healthy 2-year-old children.
- To identify potential risk factors associated with MEE in this population.
Main Methods:
- Screening tympanometry was conducted on 278 healthy 2-year-old children.
- Data collected included middle ear pressure, otoscopic findings, and information on living conditions and childcare arrangements.
Main Results:
- Nearly 50% of children had normal middle ear pressure; however, 10.8% presented with flat tympanometric curves indicative of MEE.
- The incidence of tubal dysfunction and MEE was highest in 2-year-olds compared to other age groups.
- Children attending public nurseries showed a significantly higher incidence of secretory otitis.
Conclusions:
- Two-year-olds exhibit a high incidence of MEE, though spontaneous recovery rates are also substantial.
- Childcare setting, specifically public nurseries, is a significant risk factor for secretory otitis in this age group.
- Further research is warranted to understand the long-term implications of MEE in early childhood.
Abstract:
Screening tympanometry was performed in 278 healthy 2-year-old children (556 ears) born the first 10 days of every month in 1976 in two municipalities from Copenhagen County. A middle ear pressure between 0 and -99 mm H2O was found in 49.6%, between -100 and -199 in 19.4%, between -200 and -300 in 20.1%, and flat curves in 10.8%. The latter group also otoscopically gave evidence of middle ear effusion. The results reveal the highest incidence of tubal dysfunction and middle ear effusion for this age group in contrast to any other age group. However, a large spontaneous recovery from secretory otitis was also noted. No differences were found between sexes, right ear/left ear, the socio-economic factors, or whether the children lived in houses or apartments. Children who were nursed in public nurseries had a significantly higher incidence of secretory otitis than those nursed in private nurseries or at home.