Abstract:Objective To investigate the effect of tympanostomy tube insertion on the middle ear function in children with secretory otitis media (SOM). Methods Pure tone audiometry, acoustic impedance, distortion product otoacoustic emission ( DPOAE) examination and otoscopy were carried out in 47 children (58 ears) with SOM before tube insertion, one month and 6 months after tube insertion respectively to evaluate the changes of middle ear function and surgical complications. Results One month and 6 months after tube insertion, hearing of children with catheter patency was significantly improved. In addition, the detection rate and amplitude of DPOAE were significantly increased. The difference of hearing 1 month and 6 months after tube insertion was statistically insignificant. Surgical and postoperative complications included middle ear infection, recurrent SOM, tympanic perforation and tympanic membrane retraction. Conclusion Pure tone audiometry, acoustic impedance, DPOAE and otoscopy are of clinical importance in evaluation of the middle ear function and incidence of sequelae in children with SOM after tympanostomy tube insertion. Tympanostomy tube insertion|Secretory otitis media|Pure tone audiometry| DPOAE