Extended high‐frequency hearing loss following the first episode of otitis media

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Otitis media has been associated with several auditory and developmental sequelae. Here, the results of auditory tests were evaluated in patients who had a first episode of unilateral otitis media and compared with the contralateral healthy ear. STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study. METHODS: This study was undertaken from 2015 to 2016, with a follow-up period of 6 months. RESULTS: A total of 41 patients who had been diagnosed with unilateral acute otitis media were selected. Standard (250 Hz-8 kHz) and extended high-frequency (8 kHz-16 kHz) audiometry was performed within 5 days of the beginning of the clinical symptoms, and then in defined time frames for a period of 6 months. The results of the contralateral healthy ears were used as individual controls. After closure of the initial air-bone gap, the results of the standard audiometry did not demonstrate significant differences in the thresholds of diseased ears compared with controls. A significant elevation of the mean extended high-frequency thresholds in the ears affected by otitis media was observed at the first and subsequent appointments within the 6-month follow-up period. Diseased ears from patients who experienced tinnitus during the 6-month follow-up period had significantly higher thresholds in the extended high frequencies than diseased ears from patients without residual tinnitus. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the first episode of otitis media may lead to persistent elevation of the mean thresholds of extended high-frequencies, whereas persistent tinnitus after 6 months of the acute infection is associated with more severe hearing loss. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 2b Laryngoscope, 128:2879-2884, 2018.