Tympanometric Evaluation in Cerebral Palsy Patients in Benin City Nigeria

Cerebral palsy is a static neurologic condition from brain injury that occurred before cerebral development is complete.1 Such patients are vulnerable to hearing loss.23, 24 This hearing loss can be due to middle ear pathology, which is preventable and correctable. The aim was to determine the pattern of middle ear pathology and severity of Eustachian Tube Dysfunction (ETD) in Cerebral Palsy patients at UBTH. This was a prospective descriptive study carried out for fourteen months (May 2014 to June 2015). Total population sampling technique was used.112 subjects participated, each ear, as a separate entity. Pretest was done on 60 subjects at Project Chari-love. Structured interviewer questionnaire was administered, otoscopy and Tympanometry were done. Data analyzed using Statistical Package for Scientific Solution version 16. Similar procedures were carried out on 112 control subjects comprising children in Russell International Group of Schools, Ugbowo, Benin city. Otitis Media with Effusion predominated in 154 (68.8 %) ears compared to 25.9 % in the control. ETD, 129 (57.6 %), mostly Type C1. Reduced middle ear compliance noted in 22 (9.9 %) ears. ( pless than0.001). Middle ear pathology is predominant in cerebral palsy patients. Otitis Media with Effusion is the commonest. ETD was mostly Type C1.