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Screening tympanometry in newborn infants and during the first six months of life
Insights
Middle ear pressure in infants often normalizes after birth. However, reduced ventilation, indicated by negative pressure, increases significantly by six months, linked to common colds (catarrhalia).
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Otolaryngology
- Auditory Health
- Infant Physiology
Background:
- Middle ear pressure and ventilation are crucial for hearing development in infants.
- Early life factors can influence middle ear function, potentially leading to auditory issues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To track tympanometric pressure changes in healthy infants from birth to six months.
- To investigate the etiological factors, particularly catarrhalia, affecting middle ear ventilation.
Main Methods:
- Tympanometry was conducted on 151 healthy infants at birth, 3 months, and 6 months.
- Analysis included pressure measurements, identification of flat tympanometric curves, and correlation with infant health records (catarrhalia).
Main Results:
- While initial negative middle ear pressure often normalized, it increased significantly by 6 months (39.2%).
- At 6 months, 1.3% of ears showed middle ear effusion, and 9.6% had severe negative pressure (-200 to -300 mmH2O).
- Catarrhalia prevalence rose from 23% before 3 months to 60% between 3-6 months, correlating with reduced ventilation.
Conclusions:
- Reduced middle ear ventilation, likely due to tubal mucosal edema from catarrhalia, is common in infants by 6 months.
- Ventilation deficits were observed earlier in girls with catarrhalia (3 months) compared to boys (6 months).
Abstract:
Tympanometry was performed in 151 healthy children at birth and at 3 and 6 months of age. At birth 10.5% of the ears had a pressure of -100 mmH2O, and 0.3% a pressure of -125 mmH20. The pressure in most of these ears later became normalized. At 3 months of age 17.9% had a pressure of -100 mmH2O or less, and at 6 months of age 39.2%. At 6 months of age 1.3% of the ears had flat curves and middle ear effusion, and 9.6% had a pressure between -200 and -300 mmH2O. The pressure changes and their cause were analysed. Catarrhalia occurred in 23% of the infants before 3 months of age and in 60% in the 3-6 month period. This is an important though not the only etiological factor for the reduced ventilation in the middle ear, which probably occurs via oedema of the tubal mucosa and mild internal tubal occlusion. Ventilation was significantly reduced at 3 months of age in catarrhal girls, and in catarrhal boys at 6 months of age.