# Comparison of Pre-treatment and Post-treatment Auditory Brainstem Response Results in Children with Serous Otitis

## Authors

- Selman Sarica ([ORCID](https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4246-8595)) — Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Sutcu Imam University, Faculty of Medicine, Kahramanmaraş, Turkey
- Halil Ibrahim Argama ([ORCID](https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3123-5761)) — Department of Pediatrics, Giresun University, Gynecology and Child Training and Research Hospital, Giresun, Turkey
- Serkan Kirik ([ORCID](https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8658-2448)) — Department of Pediatrics, Sutcu Imam University, Faculty of Medicine, Kahramanmaraş, Turkey
- Muhammet Bulut ([ORCID](https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5963-1267)) — Department of Pediatrics, Giresun University, Faculty of Medicine, Giresun, Turkey

## Article information

- **Journal:** The Ulutas Medical Journal (Ulutas Med J), ISSN 2149-388X
- **Issue:** Volume 7, Issue 3 (2021), pages 203–208
- **Article type:** Original Article
- **Published online:** 2021-09-26
- **DOI:** [10.5455/umj.20210603085155](https://doi.org/10.5455/umj.20210603085155)
- **Licence:** [CC BY-NC 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/)
- **Article page:** https://www.ulutasmedicaljournal.com/?mno=85435
- **PDF:** https://www.ulutasmedicaljournal.com/pdf/85435.pdf

## Abstract

Introduction: The present study aimed to investigate the effect of middle ear effusion on the ABR test through a comparison of clinical auditory brainstem response (ABR) results in pre-treatment and post-treatment in patients diagnosed with otitis media with effusion (OME). Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included 42 children aged 3 months-12 months, who failed the otoacoustic emissions (OAE) test in the hearing screening program and were diagnosed with serous otitis. Results: Following treatment of the patients, the right ears of 76.9% of patients and the left ears of 69.04% of patients passed the distortion product otoacoustic emissions test. In the OAE tests post-treatment, in 23.8% of patients, the right ear, and 30.95% patients, the left ear was negative, and a decrease was seen in the hearing thresholds in clinical ABR. The latencies of the ABR 1st and 3rd waves were observed to be significantly prolonged pre-treatment compared to post-treatment in all patients. Conclusion: The appropriate intervention in the early stage eliminates or reduces the negative effects of hearing loss. To avoid a very long follow-up period of infants diagnosed with serous otitis media in the first years of life, prompt treatment should be applied to patients who have not responded to medical treatment, and if the thresholds after treatment are above normal values, a hearing aid should be applied as soon as possible and family therapy should be provided.

## Keywords

Child; serous otitis; auditory brainstem response

## How to cite

Sarica S, Argama HI, Kirik S, Bulut M. Comparison of Pre-treatment and Post-treatment Auditory Brainstem Response Results in Children with Serous Otitis. Ulutas Med J. 2021;7(3):203-208. doi:10.5455/umj.20210603085155

## References

1. Williamson I. Otitis media with effusion in children. BMJ Clinical Evidence. 2011:05-02
2. Rosenfeld RM, Shin JJ, Schwartz SR, Coggins R, Gagnon L, Hackell JM, et al. Clinical practice guideline: otitis media with effusion. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2016;154:1-41 https://doi.org/10.1177/0194599815623467
3. Zhang Q, Wei J, Xu M, Zhang Q, Zhang X, Zhang Z, et al. Prevalence of otitis media with effusion among children in Xi'an, China: A randomized survey in China's mainland. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 2011:120:617–621 https://doi.org/10.1177/000348941112000911
4. Linsk R, Blackwood A, Cooke J, Harrison V, Lesperance M, Hildebrandt HM. University of Michigan Health System Otitis Media Guideline for Clinical Care. UMHS Otitis Media Guideline, 2013
5. Muderrıs T, Yazıcı A, Bercın S, Yalcıner G, Sevıl E, Kırıs M. Consumer acoustic reflectometry: accuracy in diagnosis of otitis media with effusion in children. Int J Pediatric Otorhino laryngology. 2013;77(10):1771–1774 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijporl.2013.08.019
6. Handler SD, Magardino TM. Otitis Media with effusion. in: Canalis RF, Lambert PR, eds. The Ear. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2000:383-396
7. Silva DD, Lopez P, Mantovani JC. Auditory brainstem response in term and preterm infants with neonatal complications: the importance of the sequential evaluation. International Arch Otorhinol. 2015;19 (2):161-165 https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0034-1378137
8. Ferraro JA, Durrant JD. Auditory evoked potentials: overview and basic principals. In: Katz J. Handbook of clinical Audiology. 4th edition 1994. p.317-338
9. Liang S, Soli SD, Zheng Y, Li G, Meng Z. Initial classification of pediatric hearing impairment using behavioral measures of early prelingual auditory development. Int J Audiol. 2016;55 (4):224–231 https://doi.org/10.3109/14992027.2015.1120891
10. Farias VB, Sleifer P, Pauletti LF, Krimberg CFD. Correlation of the findings of auditory steady-state evoked potential and of beha- vioral hearing assessment in infants with sensorineural hearing loss. CoDAS. 2014;26(03):226–230 https://doi.org/10.1590/2317-1782/201420140491
11. Robb PJ, Williamson I. Otitis media with effusion in children: current management. Paediatr Child Health. 2016;26.1: 9-14 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paed.2015.09.002
12. Conijn EAJG, Van Der Drift JFC, Brocaar MP, Van Zanten GA. Conductive hearing loss assessment in children with otitis media with effusion. A comparison of pure tone and BERA results. Clin Otolaryngol Allied Sci. 1989;14.2: 115-120 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2273.1989.tb00346.x
13. Kumral TL, Veyseller B, Ulusan M, Açıkalın RM, Cengiz K, Kablan N. [Value of otoacoustic emission tests in the diagnosis and follow-up of the otitis media with effusion]. Kulak Burun Bogaz Ihtis Derg. 2010;20:123-128
14. Jerger J. Clinical experience with impedance audiometry. Arc Otolarygol. 1970;92:311-324 https://doi.org/10.1001/archotol.1970.04310040005002
15. Gaihede M, Bramstoft M, Thomsen LT, Fogh A. Accuracy of tympanometric middle ear pressure determination in secretory otitis media: dose-dependent overestimation related to the viscosity and amount of middle ear fluid. Otol Neurotol. 2005;26:5-11 https://doi.org/10.1097/00129492-200501000-00003
16. Gates GA, Avery CA, Prihoda TJ, Cooper JC Jr. Effectiveness of adenoidectomy and tympanostomy tubes in the treatment of chronic otitis media with effusion. N Engl J Med. 1987;317: 1444-1451 https://doi.org/10.1056/nejm198712033172305
17. Baldwin M, Watkin P. Predicting the degree of hearing loss using click auditory brainstem response in babies referred from newborn hearing screening, Ear Hear. 2013;34:361-369 https://doi.org/10.1097/aud.0b013e3182728b88
18. Matschke RG, Stenzel C, Plath P, Zilles K. Maturational aspects of the human auditory pathway: anatomical and electro physiological findings. ORL J Otorhinolaryngol Relat Spec. 1994;56:68-72
19. Maruthy S, Mannarukrishnaiah J. Effect of early onset otitis media on the brainstem and cortical auditory processing. Behav Brain Funct. 2008,2;4:17 https://doi.org/10.1186/1744-9081-4-17
20. Suzuki HG, Dewez JE, Nijman RG, Yeung S. Clinical practice guidelines for acute otitis media in children: a systematic review and appraisal of European national guidelines. BMJ Open. 2020; 10(5):035343 https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2019-035343