Characteristics of the wideband absorbance of acoustic energy in children (3-7 years old) with otitis media with effusion.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to investigate the characteristics of the wideband absorbance (WBA) of acoustic energy in children (3-7 years old) with otitis media with effusion (OME) under environmental ear-canal air pressure and tympanometric peak pressure and to determine the diagnostic value of the acoustic energy absorption rate (AR) in OME at different frequencies.

METHODS

A total of 178 children aged 3-7 years were enrolled in the study between April and October 2018. They were separated into two groups: those with middle ear effusion were placed in the OME group (n = 80; 136 ears), while those without OME (n = 98; 182 ears) were placed in the control group. A WBA test was performed on the children in both groups under environmental ear-canal pressure and tympanometric peak pressure to analyze the changing characteristics of the AR value within the 0.226-8 kHz range.

RESULTS

Under ambient ear-canal air pressure, the AR of the OME group in each frequency band was significantly lower than that of the control group (P < 0.01). Under tympanometric peak pressure, the AR of the OME group in most frequencies was also significantly lower than those of the control group (P < 0.01) except in the 2-2.5 kHz range. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) was highest at 0.47-1.03 kHz: 0.96 and 0.94 at ambient ear-canal pressure and tympanometric peak pressure, respectively. Of the single frequency points, those at 0.65, 0.67, 0.69, 0.71, and 0.73 kHz had a higher AUROC value (0.96-0.97) under both ambient ear-canal air pressure and tympanometric peak pressure. The difference in the AUROC values of the two pressure conditions was not statistically significant (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Overall, WBA is an effective method of diagnosing OME in children. The frequency band with the most predictive value of AR for OME is 0.47-1.03 kHz. Middle ear effusion can be quickly identified by observing AR values in this frequency range, which provides a diagnostic basis for OME.