Prediction of 8-month MEE from neonatal risk factors and test results in SCBU and full-term babies.

The incidence and persistence of middle ear effusion (MEE) may be affected by children's birth history and environment. Factors such as bottle-feeding, presence of parental smoking, admission to special care and a history of colds are all thought to increase the risk of persistent MEE. The aim of the present study was to determine those risk factors and neonatal test results that best predict presence of MEE (as measured by 220 Hz tympanometry) at 8 months of age. One hundred Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) and non-SCBU babies were assessed neonatally and at 8 months of age with tympanometry. At each assessment, various risk factors were collected. Failure of 8-month tympanometry was best predicted by neonatal (660 Hz) tympanometry and the presence or absence of breast-feeding for SCBU babies. This provides further evidence that 660 Hz tympanometry may provide information about neonatal MEE. For non-SCBU babies the risk of failing 8-month tympanometry was most significantly affected by a history of colds and parental smoking. The number of babies with each combination of risk factors in the present study is rather small and this has caused confidence intervals (CIs) to be wide and some unexpected results. However, an extended study with a larger and more balanced sample may facilitate accurate prediction neonatally of those children at risk of 8-month MEE.