Clin Exp Otorhinolaryngol.  2011 Sep;4(3):126-130.

Frequency-Specific Hearing Results After Surgery for Chronic Ear Diseases

• Choi HG
• Lee DH
• Chang KH
• Yeo SW
• Yoon SH
• Jun BC

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
To analyze frequency-specific hearing results after surgery for chronic ear diseases while considering pathological findings and various surgical factors.
METHODS
Patients who underwent surgical management of chronic otitis media were reviewed retrospectively (n=559). Using pure tone audiometry, air conduction (AC), bone conduction (BC), and air bone gap (ABG) change between pre- and post-operative tests were calculated for the frequencies of 250, 500, 1,000, 2,000, 3,000, 4,000 (AC and BC), and 6,000 Hz (AC). Frequency-specific results were investigated, considering various surgical factors, such as type of surgery, type of ossiculoplasty and pathological findings.
RESULTS
AC results in the intact canal wall mastoidectomy showed improvement at each frequency except 4,000, 6,000 Hz. AC results in the tympanoplasty showed improvement at each frequency except 6,000 Hz. AC and ABG results in the open cavity mastoidectomy showed improvement only at the frequencies of 250, 500, 2,000 Hz. AC and ABG improved at low and mid frequencies but not in high frequencies above 3,000 Hz when ossicular reconstruction was conducted. AC and ABG results also improved at low and mid frequencies in the cholesteatoma, and ABG results improved at all frequencies except 3,000 Hz in the non-cholesteatoma.
CONCLUSION
After chronic ear surgery, AC and ABG changes improved, primarily in the low and mid frequencies. Further evaluation and studies for post-operative hearing loss at high frequencies are recommended for rehabilitation of hearing ability after surgery.

Keyword

Hearing; Frequency; Otitis media; Chronic; Surgery

MeSH Terms

Audiometry
Bone Conduction
Cholesteatoma
Ear
Ear Diseases
Hearing
Hearing Loss
Humans
Otitis Media
Retrospective Studies
Tympanoplasty

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 The results of frequency-specific hearing change of all patients (559 patients). The label marked as '*' means statistically significant change; '+' value means 'improvement'; and '-' value means 'aggravation'. COM: chronic otitis media; AB: air-bone.

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  Fig. 2 Analysis by surgical methods. (IC vs. OC vs. Tym). The value marked as '*' means statistically significant change; '+' value means 'improvement'; and '-' value means 'aggravation'. AC: air conduction; BC: bone conduction; ABG: ain-bone gap; IC: intact canal; OC: open cavity; Tym: tympanoplasty.

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  Fig. 3 The analysis by the methods of ossiculoplasty (TORP vs. PORP vs. None). The label marked as '*' means statistically significant change; '+' value means 'improvement' and '-' value means 'aggravation'. AC: air conduction; BC: bone conduction; ABG: ain-bone gap; TORP: total ossicular replacement prosthesis; PORT: partial ossicular replacement prosthesis.

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  Fig. 4 Analysis by the presence of cholesteatoma (Chole vs. N-Chole). The value marked as '*' means statistically not significant change; '+' value means 'improvement' and '-' value means 'aggravation'. AC: air conduction; BC: bone conduction; ABG: ain-bone gap.

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