The tympanogram characteristics of cleft palate patients suffering from otitis media with effusion

Abstract

The study aims to analyse the tympanogram characteristics of cleft palate patients suffering from otitis media with effusion. Patients and methods: the study was conducted on 56 cleft palate patients suffering from otitis media with effusion that have not been undergone palate reconstruction at Vietnam - Cuba Friendship Hospital, Hanoi in 2016. Patients were diagnosed with endoscopy to evaluate the change in color and shape of their eardrums. Tympanogram were measured by Interacoustic AT235. The results showed that the rate of functional symptoms such as rubbing ears, hearing loss, and shaking the head was 12.5, 3.6, and 3.6%, respectively. The rate of thickened eardrum was 24.1% with a fluid level of  14.3%. Mostly-yellow tympanic membrane accounted for 83.0%. The average ECV was 0.52±0.22 ml; Sc was 0.20±0.39 ml; MEP was -146.4±116.4 daPa. Type B tympanogram was higher with 58.3%; type C tympanogram was 28.6%. Type B tympanogram mainly occurred in mostly-yellow eardrums, accounting for 91.8%. In conclusion, the rate of type B and type C tympanogram in the cleft palate patients suffering from otitis media with effusion was 58.3 and 28.6%, respectively.