Hearing threshold differences between pre and post tympanoplasty in patients with chronic suppurative otitis media

Background: Chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) often lead to sequelae of hearing loss. Tympanoplasty is one of the strategies to improve hearing function in patients with CSOM. Aim: To evaluate hearing threshold differences in pre and post tympanoplasty in patients with CSOM. Methods: Patients who undergo tympanoplasty (n = 21) were observed prospectively. Hearing threshold (air conduction, bone conduction, and threshold deviation) were assessed using pure tone audiometry before and 12 weeks after the surgery, at the frequency of 500 Hz, 1 kHz, 2 kHz, and 4 kHz. Results: Significant difference between pre and post tympanoplasty was shown at all frequencies in air conduction (AC), while similar results are shown at 2 kHz and 4 kHz frequencies in bone conduction (BC). There is also an increase in the mean hearing threshold between pre and post tympanoplasty. Conclusion: An average of 0-5 dB of AC enhancement in all frequencies were found after tympanoplasty. Nevertheless, further study is needed on hearing threshold improvement in various types of tympanoplasty.