Nasal septum deviation and conductivity hearing loss in children

Lechosław P. Chmielik

Summary
Summary
Introduction: Respiration is a basic function of every living organism. The human respiratory system is extremely complicated. The complicated functioning of this system has been extensively investigated, yet the system has not been fully recognized. Deviation of the nasal septum, which changes the airflow in this part of the respiratory tract, can affect the state of the paranasal sinuses as well as the functions of the auditory tube. It can also cause adenoids. In the available literature on skeletal deviations of the nasal septum and their influence on the state of hearing and, particularly, on the state of the auditory tube and middle ear, there are no uniform views.
Aim: The aim of this work is to analyse the frequency of changes in tympanometry in children with a deviated nasal septum with regard to their location, shape and associated diseases.
Material and method: We analysed the medical history of 162 nasal septum patients who were treated or operated on at the Clinic of Paediatric ENT, Medical University of Warsaw, in the years 1999-2004. The analysis concerned morphology of nasal septum deviation (division according to Mladina and Cottle), establishment of frequency of occurrence of conductional hypoacusia on the basis of parents´ information, audiometry examination and tympanometry performed on all children and analysis of accompanying symptoms which can cause hypoacusia in children with a deviated nasal septum.
Results: In the examined group 57.69% of patients with a deviated nasal septum had no additional complications as checked in the examination. All the children had satisfactory hearing. With tympanometry type A and good hearing in the examined group were 88 (84.62%) children. In this group 28 (31.82%) children had some other problems.
Conclusions: Nasal septum deviation does not immediately cause disturbance of auditory tube function, and hence it does not cause hypoacusia in children.

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