Effects of Otitis Media on Extended High-Frequency Hearing in Children

Abstract

Extended high-frequency (EHF) hearing was studied in children with and without histories of chronic or recurrent otitis media (OM). The EHF thresholds were found to have good test-retest repeatability. Children with OM histories had poorer EHF hearing than children without OM histories. The EHF hearing in OM children appeared to be related to OM severity. Children with residual tympanometric abnormalities had poorer EHF hearing than OM children with normal middle ear function. The results suggest evidence for middle ear and inner ear components of EHF hearing losses in children with OM.