Int Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2014; 18 - a2398
DOI: 10.1055/s-0034-1388735

Characterization of Tympanometric Curves in Children Attended at an Infant Audiology Outpatient Clinic

Kariny Zencke da Silva 1, Camilla Vaz Severo 1, Cristina Loureiro Chaves Soldera 1, Isabela Hoffmeister Menegotto 1, Julianne Wagner 1, Márcia Salgado Machado 1
  • 1Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre

Introduction: Middle-ear disorders are common in children and tympanometry helps to identify these alterations quickly and objectively through the information related to the mobility of the tympanic membrane and middle-ear ossicular chain.

Objective: To analyze tympanometric curves of children attended at an infant audiology outpatient clinic.

Methods: This is a retrospective study in which the analysis of the tympanometric data of 262 children from 2 to 11 years old was performed. Of the 524 ears, those were excluded which could not be tested according to medical guidance. Thus, the sample consisted of 497 ears. The survey of the tympanogram was performed with equipment MT10 (Interacoustics). Tympanometric curves were classified according to Jerger (1970/1972): A, Ar, Ad, B, and C. To analyze the association between tympanometry and gender of the subjects, the chi-square test was used.

Results: In all, 255 (51.31%) ears presented tympanometric curve type A (normal tympanometry); 242 (48.69%) ears presented abnormal tympanometry: 33 (6.64%) type Ar; 8 (1.61%) type Ad; 98 (19.72%) type B; and 103 (20.72%) type C. No statistically significant association was found between gender and tympanogram (p = 0.936).

Conclusion: High incidence of altered tympanometry in the studied subjects was observed, demonstrating the relevance of perform tympanometry test in children.

Keywords: Acoustic Impedance Tests, child, middle ear.