AUDIOMETRIC FINDINGS IN CHILDREN WITH CHRONIC SUPPURATIVE OTITIS-MEDIA WITHOUT CHOLESTEATOMA

Chronic suppurative otitis media without cholesteatoma (CSOMWC) is usu ally associated with an increase in air conduction thresholds. However , only a few investigations reported on loss of cochlear function in t he pediatric population. We undertook a prospective study in order to further delineate air and bone conduction levels in children with CSOM WC and the possible relationship between sensorineural hearing loss (S NHL) and other clinical characteristics that might reflect the extent of disease. Eighty-seven children were enrolled, 40 of which had bilat eral disease. Hence, the total number of diseased ears tested was 127. Audiometric studies were performed three days after achieving a 'dry' ear following medical treatment. We found no statistically significan t differences between the bone conduction threshold tested in ears wit h CSOMWC and control ears. This was also the case in 47 children with unilateral disease when cochlear function was investigated in the dise ased and uninvolved ear in the same patient. Clinical correlation show ed no association between age, sex, duration of otorrhea and presence of granulation or polyps and the degree of cochlear loss. Our study sh ows that CSOMWC in children has little effect on cochlear function.