The Relevance of the Study of the Size and Localization of Perforation of the Tympanic Membrane and its Diagnostic Significance

Abstract

Chronic Otitis Media is a chronic inflammation of the mucoperiosteal lining of a part or whole of the middle ear cleft characterized by ear discharge and a permanent perforation of TM with or without hearing loss. COM is a major cause of acquired hearing impairment especially in developing countries. Tympanic membrane perforation leads to varying degree of conductive hearing loss. Loss of hearing is a national health problem with significant physical and psychosocial effects. The magnitude of conductive hearing loss in inactive tubotympanic disease is affected by many factors. Size of the tympanic membrane perforation and site of the tympanic membrane perforation are important factors affecting the amount of hearing loss in COM. This study is conducted mainly to correlate the relationship between size of the perforation, site of the perforation and the degree of hearing loss in inactive tubotympanic disease.