Otomycosis can usually be diagnosed by clinical examination and often occurs in the setting of persistent otorrhea. Complications are not uncommon but usually resolve with application of appropriate topical antifungal agents. Eradication of disease is more difficult in the presence of a mastoid cavity.

Greater success in healing of the tympanic membrane following tympanoplasty in children is seen with advancing age. None of the other parameters studied was shown to be a significant predictor of success. Guidelines for reporting results of tympanoplasty are presented.

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C-4.

OBJECTIVE To assess methods of evaluating the function of the facial nerve that have been introduced over the past 15 years, particularly in comparison with the House-Brackmann scale. DATA SOURCES A Medline search was undertaken of the English-language medical literature between 1983 and 2000 to identify proposed methods of evaluating facial nerve function. STUDY SELECTION Although all grading systems were considered, attention was focused on the systems that provided improvements in either precision or ease of use. CONCLUSIONS Because of the limitations and subjectivity of the House-Brackmann scale, several new scales of various degrees of objectivity and ease of use have been introduced. The Nottingham system offers a more objective but easy-to-use facial nerve grading system that has been demonstrated to be valid and that would be easy for the average practitioner to adopt. The authors propose a more systematic evaluation of this system to determine whether its widespread application is appropriate.