Effects of Secobarbital on Impedance Audiometry

Abstract

Ten normal hearing children from 3 to 7 years of age were tested with impedance audiometry on four occasions, one test being given 60 minutes following the administration of a sedative, secobarbital. The drug produced the expected behavioral response in eight subjects, ie, five fell asleep and three became drowsy. One remained awake and one became hyperactive and untestable. The drug failed to have a significant effect on tympanometry, static compliance, gradient or gradient percent scores. Postdrug acoustic reflex thresholds were present but significantly elevated for five subjects. Secobarbital was considered to be an effective sedative for conducting impedance audiometry with difficult-totest children. Caution, however, should be used in interpreting acoustic reflex threshold data for sedated children.