Comparison between Tympanometry and Otoscopic Examination

Objective: To compare the results of tympanometry with otoscpic examination obtained by E.N.T physicians and to see if there is agreement between the two methods. Subjects: Two hundred patients (400 ears) of two age groups aged 5 and 9 years old randomly were included in this study. Methods: Otoscopic evaluation using ordinary otoscope followed by tympanometric measurements using manual tympanometer (type Madsen) were conducted on each era of the participants on the same day, at Prince Hashim Ibn Al- Hussein Hospital in Jordan during 2001 and 2002. Results and Conclusion: Otoscopic examination showed an agreement in more than 90% with tympanometry. Tympanometry is an objective and useful method in clinical practice for detecting middle ear effusion.