Eustachian tube function in young children without a history of otitis media evaluated using a pressure chamber protocol

Abstract

Conclusions: Protocol limitations were identified and accounted for in the analysis. Percent gradient equilibrated (PGE) was affected by driving gradient direction in a similar manner to other efficiency measures. A finer resolution of possible age-related changes in eustachian tube opening efficiency is expected with the application of more sophisticated statistical models to the complete dataset at study end.

Objective: To report the results of an interim analysis for an ongoing study designed to characterize the age-related changes in eustachian tube opening efficiency measured using a pressure chamber protocol in children without a history of middle ear disease.

Methods: To date, 41 children aged 3 years without a history of otitis media have been enrolled in a longitudinal study of the age-related changes in eustachian tube function and evaluated at yearly intervals between 3 and 7 years of age. Eustachian tube opening efficiency, the percent of the applied pressure gradient equilibrated by swallowing, was measured by repeat tympanometry during a pressure chamber protocol. Data (120 tests) were analyzed using an ANOVA with variance partitioned by age (3 through 6 years), gradient direction (positive/negative), and ear (left/right).

Results: PGE was higher for left ears and positive driving gradients, but was not different among age groups.

Keywords: Age effects; eustachian tube opening; gradient direction; methodology.

Figure 1

Exterior (A) and interior (B) views of the hypo/hyperbaric pressure chamber used for testing in the present study.

Figure 2

Cumulative percent frequency distributions of the Percent Gradient Equilibrated (PGE) with swallowing recorded for Test Sequences 1 (diamonds), 2 (squares) and 3 (triangles).