Clinical experience of Acoustic Otoscope Recorder Model 501

Abstract

Acoustic Otoscope Recorder Model 501, a new model of Acoustic Otoscope, which was developed for group or individual diagnosis of otitis media with effusion (OME) has been used for group examination or clinical examination, and the results were as follows:The results of group examination of OME with 58 ears (ages from 4 to 16 years) revealed that the ratios of correct response, false positive response and false negative response were 94.7%, 1.8% and 3.6%, respectively. The sensitivity for detection of OME was rather low such as 50.0%, whereas the specificity to be able to detect normal cases was so high as 98.0%. Of the cases which the AOR-501 defined as OME, the positive predictivity which means the ratio that the OME could actually be confirmed amounted to 66.7%, and the negative predictivity which means the ratio that the findings of eardrum were normal amounted to 92.6%.The ratio of correct response with tympanogram (TG) which was conducted in parallel with AOR-501, was 94.7% and there was none of false negative response, and the ratio of false positivity was 5.4% (3 ears). The probability to be able to detect OME was 100% and the probability to be able to detect normal cases was 94.2%In the clinical diagnosis with AOR-501, the specificity of nomal ears was so high as 92.7%, whereas the sensitivity for the ears in which effusions retained was rather low such as 64.1%. Perforated ears, tubated ears and atelectated ears could not be detected. The difference of specificity with age of patient was not obtaind.It was therefore concluded that, although it has excellent manipulatability in the actual practice for diagnosis, the results of judgement with AOR-501 were not superior to those TG, so that it could not possibly be claimed to replase TG.