The effects of chronic otitis media with effusion on the measurement of distortion products of otoacoustic emissions: presurgical and postsurgical examination

This study aims to determine the influence of middle ear effusion and inser ted tympanostomy tubes on the feasibility of recording and of the amplitude of distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE). Effusion in the middl e ear reduces the number of measurable responses and their amplitude in the whole range of frequencies from 0.5 to s kHz. These changes were more dist inct in mucous than in serous effusion. There was an increase in the number of measurable responses and amplitude of DPOAE after surgery. Inserted tym panostomy tubes have no influence on the feasibility of DPOAE recording but reduce their amplitude in comparison to the control group.