Multiple-frequency tympanometry in children with acute otitis media

Multiple-frequency tympanometry (MFT) is a sweep-frequency method of acoust ic immittance measurement, recently introduced in clinical practice. It pro vides values for the resonant frequency of the middle ear system. The purpo se of this study was to use MFT to collect information about the mechano-ac oustical changes occurring to the middle ear system after acute otitis medi a and to compare it with the results of conventional, low probe-tone tympan ometry. Children with acute otitis media were followed up with both methods for 1 month after an episode of acute infection. Also, children with norma l hearing were studied to establish normative data. Resonant frequency of t he middle ear was found to be lower than normal even 1 month past the initi al episode, for all types of 226-Hz tympanograms. MFT seemed to record chan ges in the middle ear after acute otitis media that 226-Hz tympanometry was unable to detect, implying persistence of pathology. More extended researc h will illuminate the clinical value of this method in the follow-up of acu te otitis media.