Relatively poorer audibility threshold for high frequency was found in children with medical history of multiples episodes of secretory otitis media. AIM: to characterize the audibility threshold for high frequencies in normal-hearing children with medical history of multiples episodes of bilateral secretory otitis media. MATERIALS AND METHODS: a sample of 31 children, from both genders, was divided in two groups: 14 subjects who had not more than 3 episodes of bilateral secretory otitis media (Group 1) and 17 subjects that experienced at least 4 episodes of this condition (Group 2). Pure-tone air conduction audiometry was tested at frequencies 9,000 to 18,000 Hz. STUDY DESIGN: transversal prospective. RESULTS: there was no difference between audibility thresholds comparing right and left ears of subjects of both Group 1 and Group 2 in all tested frequencies. However, there was difference between audibility thresholds between subjects of Group 2 compared to Group 1 in all tested frequencies. CONCLUSION: 1- There was an increase in audibility thresholds with the increase in frequency . 2- High frequency audiometry separates subjects with history of at least four episodes of secretory otitis media, suggesting that these episodes are sufficient to promote statistically significant difference in high frequency thresholds.
audiometry; children; secretory otitis media
