Extended high-frequency hearing loss following the first episode of otitis media.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Otitis media has been associated with several auditory and developmental sequelae. Here, the results of auditory tests were evaluated in patients who had a first episode of unilateral otitis media and compared with the contralateral healthy ear.

STUDY

DESIGN

Cohort study.

METHODS

This study was undertaken from 2015 to 2016, with a follow-up period of 6 months.

RESULTS

A total of 41 patients who had been diagnosed with unilateral acute otitis media were selected. Standard (250 Hz-8 kHz) and extended high-frequency (8 kHz-16 kHz) audiometry was performed within 5 days of the beginning of the clinical symptoms, and then in defined time frames for a period of 6 months. The results of the contralateral healthy ears were used as individual controls. After closure of the initial air-bone gap, the results of the standard audiometry did not demonstrate significant differences in the thresholds of diseased ears compared with controls. A significant elevation of the mean extended high-frequency thresholds in the ears affected by otitis media was observed at the first and subsequent appointments within the 6-month follow-up period. Diseased ears from patients who experienced tinnitus during the 6-month follow-up period had significantly higher thresholds in the extended high frequencies than diseased ears from patients without residual tinnitus.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that the first episode of otitis media may lead to persistent elevation of the mean thresholds of extended high-frequencies, whereas persistent tinnitus after 6 months of the acute infection is associated with more severe hearing loss.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 2b Laryngoscope, 128:2879-2884, 2018.