Abstract
OBJECTIVE--To determine the reliability, validity, and feasibility of a new hand held microtympanometer. DESIGN--Comparison of microtympanometry by two independent observations of a general practitioner and a nurse, and against a validated reference instrument. SETTING--Primary care health centre of a school for the deaf in the United States. SUBJECTS--111 schoolchildren receiving a regular check up. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Tympanometry with the Grason Stadler 28, classified with a slightly modified Jerger's classification. RESULTS--Interobserver reliability was 0.95 (Cohen's kappa). Results of microtympanometry were highly comparable with results of the reference instrument (likelihood ratio of positive results, 161.2). CONCLUSIONS--The microtympanometer could be used in general practice: it is hand held, child friendly, easy to handle, and accurate.