Publication:

Tympanic membrane perforation: correlation of hearing loss with its site and size

Background The objectives of the study were correlation of hearing loss with size and site of tympanic membrane perforation.

Methods A cross-sectional prospective study of 100 patients of both sex and age between 11-60 years with perforated tympanic membrane was conducted in the department of Otorhinolaryngology (ENT). Size and site of TM perforation was assessed using otoscope and otomicroscope. Size of perforation was measured with 1 mm thin wire loop and vernier caliper. Patients were divided into three groups according to size; Group I (0-9 mm), Group II (9-30 mm), Group III (>30 mm). The tympanic membrane was divided into five segments anterosuperior, posterosuperior, anteroinferior, posteroinferior and central for the localization of the site of perforation. Data thus collected was statistically analysed.

Results Patients with Group I perforation had an average hearing loss of 31.42±7.15 decibel. Group II had an average hearing loss of 39.42±8.97 decibel. Group III had an average hearing loss of 48.91±7.38 decibel. Maximum hearing loss was noted in patients with central perforation with an average hearing loss of 39.34±9.47 decibel. Average hearing loss was found higher in posterior perforations than anterior quadrant perforations. This difference was however not statistically significant with ‘p’ value of ‘0.689’.

Conclusions Linear correlation was found between size of tympanic membrane perforation and degree of hearing loss. No linear correlation between site of tympanic membrane perforation and hearing loss was found. We found no correlation between duration of disease and size of tympanic membrane perforation with degree of hearing loss.