TYMPANOSCOPY TO INCREASE THE ACCURACY OF DIAGNOSIS IN CONDUCTIVE HEARING-LOSS

The diagnosis of conductive hearing loss is usually based on audiologi cal methods and radiology. The aim of our study was to show that there is a useful additive method to clarify the findings of diseases with conductive hearing loss,Patients (151 ears) with conductive hearing lo ss were examined using several methods: otomicroscopy, air-and bone-co nduction threshold, pure tone average, speech threshold, speech discri mination, tympanometry and stapedial reflex and tympanoscopy. The mana gement of the patients changed in 17 per cent of cases due to tympanos copy. In a group with normal tympanic membrane the movement elf the st apes during endoscopy was compared to stapedial reflex. Stiff stapes w ere found more often than an abnormal stapedial reflex. Middle ear end oscopy tan increase the accuracy of diagnosis of conductive hearing la ss thus enhancing decision making in the case of the patient.