Middle ear disease in native Indian children in British Columbia--incidence of disease and an evaluation of screening methods.

A total of 1,109 Indian children in five British Columbia communities were surveyed for middle ear disease. Evaluation included a history, pure screening, impedance audiometry, and otolaryngological examination. Of these, 12.7 per cent had middle ear disease requiring treatment, namely serous otitis media, perforated tympanic membrane, or cholesteatoma. Serous otitis media was the commonest disease and it was most prevalent in the 0-4 years age group. Pure tone audiometry and impedance audiometry were both unsatisfactory screening methods in this study. The tests could not be performed in the majority of patients four years of age or younger, and they both showed a high incidence of false positive results as well as a significant incidence of false negative results. On the basis of this preliminary report a proposal is made for a screening and continuing evaluation program involving local health care personnel, audiologists, and otolaryngologists.