Influence of tympanic membrane changes on audiometric and immittance findings in school-aged children.

Six-hundred-and-eighty-seven 6 to 15-year-old children were examined for the association between tympanic membrane (TM) changes and audiometric or immittance findings. The hearing thresholds were between 20 and 30 dB in ears with amber TM, but between 25 and 45 dB in ears with adhesive TM. When the TM was retracted or the mobility decreased, the hearing thresholds were about 10 dB poorer than in ears with normal TM position or mobility. Thick TM caused hearing loss in the high-frequency areas. The hearing loss was only marginal (3-4 dB) in ears with retracted pars flaccida compared with ears with normal position of pars flaccida. The mean and median middle ear pressure value was lower than -200 da Pa in ears with dull, amber, retracted, poorly movable, adhesive or thick TM. It was between -100 and -200 da Pa in ears with red TM, locally retracted pars tensa or retracted pars flaccida. Stapedius reflex thresholds were higher in ears with one or several abnormal findings than in normal ears.