A Correlation Study of Preoperative Pure Tone Audiometry Findings of Hearing Loss to Intraoperative Findings in Tubotympanic Type of Chronic Otitis Media

Introduction: Chronic otitis media (COM) is a prevalent middle ear disease in developing countries, especially in rural India, with a prevalence ranging from 2-15%. COM is characterized by recurrent suppurative discharge and structural abnormalities, such as tympanic membrane perforation and ossicular chain pathologies, leading to mild to moderate conductive hearing loss. Pure tone audiometry (PTA) is a crucial tool for assessing hearing loss, but intraoperative findings remain essential for accurate diagnosis and surgical planning. Objective: To compare preoperative pure tone audiometry findings with intraoperative findings in tubotympanic chronic otitis media. Materials & Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 110 patients with tubotympanic chronic otitis media undergoing tympanoplasty at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, tertiary care hospital, Gujarat. Data were collected on perforation characteristics, ossicular condition, and audiometric assessments. Results: The mean age of the patients was 29.9 ± 10.87 years, with 70.9% being female. Ear discharge (96.4%) was the most common symptom. Otoscopy detected perforation in 95.8% of cases, while surgery confirmed it in 100%. ll patients exhibited conductive hearing loss, with 48.2% having mild and 48.2% having moderate hearing loss. The air-bone gap and overall hearing loss were significantly greater in larger and posterior perforations. No significant differences in hearing metrics were noted between patients with and without ossicular defects. Conclusion: Otoscopy and PTA provide valuable initial insights, but intraoperative examination is more comprehensive. The size and site of perforations significantly impact hearing loss, with larger and posterior perforations leading to greater impairment.