Comparison of spectral gradient acoustic reflectometry and other diagnostic techniques for detection of middle ear effusion in children with middle ear disease

Detection of middle-ear fluid in children with spectral gradient acoustic reflectometry: A screening tool for nurses?

“…In our study, the rate of unsuccessful SG-AR recordings was higher and the diagnostic accuracy lower than in studies where SG-ARs had been performed by a physician [2,8,10,11]. This is probably in part due to the younger patient material in this study (mean age 23 months) Á/ a fact that also makes the present study more clinically relevant, since it reflects the child population with frequent AOM.…”

“…Diagnosis of AOM is based on the presence of fluid in the middle ear. Among methods to identify middle-ear fluid (MEF), myringotomy is invasive and pneumatic otoscopy is considered difficult to perform and is highly dependent on the cooperation of the child [2]. Tympanometry yields sensitivities and specificities comparable to those of pneumatic otoscopy in detecting MEF [3Á/5], but has the disadvantage of requiring an airtight seal in the ear canal and the results are thus affected by the cooperation of the child [3].…”

“…SG-AR has shown to be comparable to pneumatic otoscopy and tympanometry in detecting MEF in studies, where the middle ear status has been confirmed by either myringotomy or pneumatic otoscopy [2,8,10 Á/12]. Acoustic reflectometry does not require an airtight fit in the ear canal and is hence generally reliable even with struggling or crying children [2]. This study evaluated SG-AR performed by a nurse as a screening tool to detect MEF in an outpatient setting.…”

Acute Otitis Media in Children

“…The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of the two instruments has been assessed in comparison with pneumatic otoscopy, audiometry and tympanocentesis findings (11,12). As a result both of them have some limitations.…”

Consumer acoustic reflectometry by parents in detecting middle-ear fluid among children undergoing tympanostomy

“…The acoustic reflectometer is a small, lightweight, and cordless instrument, the tip of which is inserted at the end of the ear canal and directed towards tympanic membrane during recording, which takes approximately five seconds. It is generally easy to perform and has a high success rate even among crying and struggling children [2], suggesting a possibility for home usage by parents. Newer second-generation acoustic reflectometry (SG-AR) has been proved to be comparable to tympanometry in detecting MEF among children younger than two years [3].…”