title: Evaluation of tympanometry in diagnosis and treatment of otitis media of the newborn and of the infant.
abstract: The authors report tympanometric findings in normal newborns and infants (W-shaped, large smooth-notched curves), comparing them with those obtained in 34 ears of infants aged 5-120 days with middle ear pathology. In most cases a large smooth-notched curve was found, both in cases of serous otitis or purulent otitis. The W-shaped curve was present only in the case of normal middle ear condition. The large smooth-notched curve, however, may be representative of a normal or a pathological condition. For this reason tympanometry is not always a useful clinical tool to differentiate normal from pathological conditions of the middle ear up to the fourth month of life.
mesh_terms: D000158:Acoustic Impedance Tests / Q000592:standards*; D000367:Age Factors; D004432:Ear, Middle / Q000503:physiopathology; D004724:Endoscopy; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D014432:Tympanic Membrane / Q000601:surgery