No abstract

Screening tympanometry was performed in 278 healthy 2-year-old children (556 ears) born the first 10 days of every month in 1976 in two municipalities from Copenhagen County. A middle ear pressure between 0 and ––99 mm H₂O was found in 49.6%, between ––100 and ––199 in 19.4%, between ––200 and ––300 in 20.1%, and flat curves in 10.8%. The latter group also otoscopically gave evidence of middle ear effusion. The results reveal the highest incidence of tubal dysfunction and middle ear effusion for this age group in contrast to any other age group. However, a large spontaneous recovery from secretory otitis was also noted. No differences were found between sexes, right ear/left ear, the socio-economic factors, or whether the children lived in houses or apartments. Children who were nursed in public nurseries had a significantly higher incidence of secretory otitis than those nursed in private nurseries or at home.

Tympanometry was repeated 3, months after the first evaluation of 254 healthy 2-year-old children. Although the total distribution of tympanogram types was the same at the second as at the primary evaluation, 14% of the ears showing type B indicating middle ear effusion, and 38.6% having a negative middle ear pressure of – 100 mmH₂O or less, the types altered in 51.8% of all ears. Type B had improved in 5 3% of the ears in which it was originally found, indicating a considerable tendency to spontaneous improvement of secretory otitis. Alterations in the tympanometric findings were due predominantly to a change in the frequency of catarrhalia.