Objective

2

To analyze the hearing loss and its influencing factors in 288 children with otitis media with effusion (OME).

Methods

2

This study was a retrospective study. 288 children with OME treated at our hospital from January 2020 to December 2024 were selected as the research subjects. They were divided into the hearing loss group and the non-hearing loss group according to whether they had combined hearing loss. The clinical data and disease characteristics of the two groups of children were collected and compared. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to explore the influencing factors for hearing loss in children with OME. The efficacy of each influencing factor in predicting hearing loss in children with OME was evaluated by the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC).

Results

2

Among the 288 OME children enrolled in the study

there were 160 males and 128 females. The average age was (7.61±1.58) years old

and the disease duration was (3.09±1.31) months. Among them

102 cases had concurrent hearing loss

with an incidence rate of 35.4%. The duration of the disease

the proportions of children with a history of combined respiratory tract infections

combined allergic rhinitis

combined adenoid hypertrophy

and a family history of combined ear diseases in the hearing loss group were all higher than those in the non-hearing loss group (

P

<

0.05). The proportions of tympanic membrane perforation

glue ear

adenoid hypertrophy of grade 3 - 4

moderate to severe eustachian tube obstruction

and abnormal eustachian tube opening function in the hearing loss group were higher than those in the non-hearing loss group (

P

<

0.05). The proportion of children whose parents smoked in the hearing loss group was higher than that in the non-hearing loss group (

P

<

0.05). The results of univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that the duration of the disease [OR (95%CI) = 1.274 (1.034 - 1.569)

]

the nature of middle ear effusion being glue ear [OR (95%CI) = 2.260 (1.048 - 4.877)

]

adenoid hypertrophy of grade 3 - 4 [OR (95%CI) = 2.017 (1.161 - 3.507)

]

abnormal eustachian tube opening function [OR (95%CI) = 1.908 (1.095 - 3.324)

]

and paren

ts smoking [OR (95%CI) = 1.843 (1.045 - 3.249)

]

were independent risk factors for hearing loss in children with OME (all P values

<

0.05). The AUC values for predicting hearing loss in children with OME by the duration of the disease

the nature of middle ear effusion being glue ear

adenoid hypertrophy of grade 3 - 4

abnormal eustachian tube opening function

parents smoking alone and in combination of these five factors were 0.726 (95%CI: 0.666 - 0.786

P

<

0.001)

with a prediction sensitivity of 71.34% and a specificity of 72.45%.

Conclusion

2

Children with OME who have a longer disease duration

glue ear as the nature of middle ear effusion

adenoid hypertrophy of grade 3 - 4

abnormal eustachian tube opening function

and parents who smoke are more likely to have combined hearing loss. Early interventions should be carried out according to the disease characteristics and environmental factors of children to prevent the occurrence and aggravation of hearing loss in children.