Deafness in Acute Otitis Media

Abstract

A survey was made of 171 cases of otitis media occurring in children in two general practices, and 121 of these were followed up with audiometry. Nearly all the children were treated with oral penicillin, and the reasons for taking this course of action are given. Only two (1.5%) children suffered permanent damage to the hearing in both ears, and six (5%) had a permanent loss in one ear. At the first testing, 20% of the children had a hearing loss of over 20 db. in one or both ears, but in most cases they recovered, the average time between the attack and a normal hearing test being 23 months. A further 15% had a minor hearing-loss of between 10 and 20 db. Recurrence of the attacks of otitis media was the only factor that increased the chances of permanent damage to the middle ear. The importance of recognizing these periods of impaired hearing is stressed. © 1966, British Medical Journal Publishing Group. All rights reserved.