Secretory otitis media. Long-term observations after treatment with grommets

Ninety children from 1 to 14 years of age with secretory otitis media were treated with grommets and reexamined 4 1/2 to 7 1/2 years after the initial treatment. A total of 173 ears were included. All but one showed unchanged or improved hearing at follow-up, and 93% of all ears had a pure tone average of 20 dB or better. Widespread changes of the tympanic membranes were associated with hearing slightly more impaired than found in association with normal or minor changed membranes. In 21%, the eardrums were normal at otomicroscopy, while tympanosclerosis was the most frequent abnormality, found in 61%. Atrophy and retraction were frequent findings. Seven percent of the ears were still being treated or showed recurrence. Perforations were found in 3%, but there were no cholesteatomas.