Background: Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media (CSOM) remains a major cause of preventable hearing loss, particularly in developing countries like India. Audiological assessment plays a crucial role in determining the type and severity of hearing impairment associated with CSOM.
Objective: To evaluate the audiological profile of patients with CSOM and analyze the association between the type of CSOM and type of hearing loss.
Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted over one year (2017) at Saraswati Medical College, Unnao, Uttar Pradesh, involving 50 clinically diagnosed CSOM patients. Detailed ENT examination and pure tone audiometry were performed to assess hearing loss. Data were analyzed using SPSS software, and associations were tested using the Chi-square test.
Results: Conductive hearing loss was the most common type, observed in 68% of patients, followed by mixed hearing loss in 26% and sensorineural hearing loss in 6%. Among mucosal CSOM cases, 75% had conductive hearing loss, while squamous CSOM showed a higher incidence of mixed (40%) and sensorineural (20%) loss. The association between type of CSOM and hearing loss was not statistically significant (p = 0.073).
Conclusion: Mucosal CSOM is primarily associated with reversible conductive hearing loss, whereas squamous CSOM tends to cause more severe and potentially irreversible mixed or sensorineural hearing loss. Early diagnosis and regular audiological evaluation are essential to prevent long-term auditory disability.