Audiometric Changes in Chronic Secretory Otitis Media Due to Nasal Allergy

PURPOSE: To investigate the possible role of nasal allergy on hearing levels in chronic otitis media with effusion (OME). METHOD: In 87 adults who had chronic OME, 185 nasal challenges with allergen were performed using rhinomanometry combined with tympanometry and pure-tone audiometry (PTA). RESULTS: Of the 87 patients, 71 developed 131 positive nasal responses (NRs; p < 0.01), 119 of which were associated with significant changes in middle ear pressure (p < 0.01) and 96 with significant changes in PTA (p < 0.01). The hearing threshold increased significantly (>30 dB) at tone frequencies of 2,000 Hz during 63 NRs (p < 0.05) and at tone frequencies of 4,000 Hz during 93 NRs (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Nasal allergy can affect Eustachian tube function, leading to the changes in the middle ear pressure and resulting in hearing impairment. Nasal challenges with allergen performed using rhinomanometry combined with tympanometry and PTA may be a useful diagnostic supplement in chronic OME patients.