Objective: To explore the correlation between sensorineural hearing loss (SHL) and otitis media with effusion (OME).
Method: The data of 38 cases with OME who had no recovery of bone conduction hearing threshold were reviewed. The bone conduction hearing thresholds at different frequencies in both healthy and suffering ears were measured and their relationship with age, duration, character and amount of effusion were also discussed.
Result: At different frequencies, the bone conduction hearing thresholds of the suffering ear were higher than those of the healthy ear (P < 0.05). The older of the age and the longer of the duration, the more possibility of SHL occurrence. Its occurrence was more likely to appear in patients with mucous effusion than in patients with serous effusion, however, it had no relationship with the amount of the effusion.
Conclusion: OME may lead to SHL, and the etiology and mechanism is complicated and unclear. The patients with older age, longer duration and mucous effusion are more susceptible to SHL, and should be early diagnosed and managed.