title: Rapid maxillary expansion versus middle ear tube placement: Comparison of hearing improvements in children with resistance otitis media with effusion.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To test the null hypothesis that there are significant differences in hearing improvements of children with resistance otitis media with effusion (OME) who undergo a rapid maxillary expansion (RME) procedure or ventilation tube placement.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-two children between 4.5 and 15 years old were divided into three groups: RME, ventilation tube, and control groups. The RME group consisted of 15 children with maxillary constriction and resistance OME that indicated ventilation tube placement. The ventilation tube group consisted of 16 children for whom ventilation tube placement was indicated but no maxillary constriction. The control group consisted of 11 children with no orthodontic and/or rhinologic problems. Hearing thresholds were evaluated with three audiometric records: (1) before RME/ventilation tube placement (T0); (2) after RME/ventilation tube placement (T1), and (3) after an observation period of 10 months (T2). The control group was matched to these periods, except T1.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hearing thresholds decreased significantly in both the RME and ventilation tube groups (P < .001). Hearing thresholds decreased approximately 15 and 17 decibels in the RME and ventilation tube groups, respectively, but differences in improvements were insignificant between the two study groups (P > .05). Slight changes were observed in the control groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The null hypothesis was rejected. RME showed similar effects as ventilation tube placement for release of otitis media and improvement of hearing thresholds levels. RME should be preferred as a first treatment option for children with maxillary constriction and resistance OME.
authors.affiliation: a  Associate Professor. Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Atatürk University, Erzurum, Turkey.
authors.forename: Nihat
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kılıç
authors.affiliation: b  Associate Professor. Faculty of Medicine, Department of Otorhinolarygology, Atatürk University, Erzurum, Turkey.
authors.forename: Özgür
authors.initials: Ö
authors.lastname: Yörük
authors.affiliation: c  Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon. Ministry of Health, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Centre for Oral and Dental Health, Erzurum, Turkey.
authors.forename: Songül Cömert
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Kılıç
authors.affiliation: d  Private Practice, Kocaeli, Turkey.
authors.forename: Gülhan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Çatal
authors.affiliation: e  Assistant Professor. Faculty of Medicine, Department of Otorhinolarygology, Kafkas University, Kars, Turkey.
authors.forename: Sezgin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kurt
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004432:Ear, Middle; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008876:Middle Ear Ventilation; D010034:Otitis Media with Effusion / Q000628:therapy*; D010155:Palatal Expansion Technique
keywords: Hearing loss; Middle ear tube; Otitis media with effusion; Rapid maxillary expansion