Validity of tympanometry in the diagnosis of middle ear effusion.

A group of 266 children (515 ears), ranging in age from 5 months to 11 years, was studied. These children were candidates for the insertion of ventilation tubes, or adenoidectomy and/or tonsillectomy with myringotomy. Before surgery, tympanometry was performed. The surgical and tympanometric findings were compared afterwards. Two different tympanometers were used (GSI-27A and TYMP-85TT). This study showed a comparable validity of these two tympanometers. The sensitivity and specificity of tympanometry in the age group of 5 months to 2 years did not show a significant difference from that in the age group of 2-12 years. Otoscopy has limited value for the diagnosis of middle ear effusion in this age group.