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Cochlear Function in Chronic Otitis Media
Author(s) -
Dumich Peter S.,
Harner Stephen G.
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
the laryngoscope
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1531-4995
pISSN - 0023-852X
DOI - 10.1002/lary.1983.93.5.583
Subject(s) - medicine , bone conduction , audiology , otitis , temporal bone , sensorineural hearing loss , hearing loss , perforation , surgery , punching , materials science , metallurgy
Otologic symptoms, audiometric data, and operative findings were reviewed in 200 consecutive patients who had surgically treated unilateral chronic otitis media. Bone conduction thresholds were analyzed in relation to extent of perforation, frequency of otorrhea, duration of disease, and extent of pathologic change. Median bone conduction threshold differences between diseased and uninvolved ears were within 5 dB at all frequencies. The mean speech discrimination score between affected and unaffected ears was equal. Patients with prolonged disease and more extensive pathologic alterations were more likely to experience cochlear changes and hence sensorineural hearing loss, though not to the extent others have described. Our findings indicate that chronic otitis media has little effect on cochlear function in the majority of patients.