title: Diagnostic value of tympanometry in infants in clinical practice.
abstract: One hundred and twenty-one visits of 58 infants (2-11 months of age) were evaluated in the Finnish Otitis Media Vaccine Trial. Infants were examined with tympanometry (Grason-Stadler GSI 38 Autotymp) and pneumatic otoscopy by one study doctor. Diagnosis of otitis media was verified by myringotomy in 74% of cases. Tympanometry was technically successful in 94% of ears. The success rate was statistically significantly higher (P < 0.05) among infants less than 7 months of age than those above 7 months. The sensitivity of tympanometry (type B) to detect ears with middle ear fluid was 0.70 and the specificity 0.98 with a positive predictive value of 0.93 and negative predictive value of 0.94. The sensitivity was somewhat lower in the younger age group (0.61); specificity and positive and negative predictive values were good in both age groups. The high success rate and high negative and positive predictive values of tympanometry make it a useful aid for assuring the correct diagnosis of otitis media in infants in routine clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Vaccines, National Public Health Institute, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Palmu
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Puhakka
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rahko
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Takala
mesh_terms: D000158:Acoustic Impedance Tests / Q000379:methods*; D000208:Acute Disease; D000367:Age Factors; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008876:Middle Ear Ventilation; D008954:Models, Biological; D010034:Otitis Media with Effusion / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies