[A comparison of impedance and pure tone audiometry in children (author's transl)].

The results of conventional pure-tone audiometry and impedance audiometry are compared in 386 pre-school children. The children showing abnormal audiograms were subjected to a repeated examination in the ENT Clinic a few weeks later. It was shown, that all children, whose hearing disorders were confirmed, had already had abnormal impedance measurements during the screening examination. On the other hand, pathological changes of the ears were detected in 5.92% of the children only by the impedance measurements and not by the conventional puretone audiometry. Evaluation of the pressure and the acoustic reflex of the middle ear by impedance audiometry is preferred. It is well recommended in the examination of pre-school children, because the procedure takes little time and is easy to perform.