Validity of acoustic reflectometry in detecting middle ear effusion.
Pneumootoscopy, tympanometry, and acoustic reflectometry were performed in 256 middle-class children seen in a surburban pediatric office. The results demonstrated that relectometry, when validated by otoscopic findings, detected middle ear effusion with 88% sensitivity and 83% specificity when a cut-off of 5 linear units was used. Corresponding values for tympanometry were 87% and 77.5%. These results are in keeping with those of earlier studies on acoustic reflectometry and demonstrate the usefulness of this simple technique in detecting chronic and acute otitis media with effusion.
D000158:Acoustic Impedance Tests; D001314:Auscultation / Q000295:instrumentation; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010034:Otitis Media with Effusion / Q000175:diagnosis*