The reliability of video otoscopy recordings and still images in the asynchronous diagnosis of middle-ear disease.

Objective: To compare the asynchronous assessment of video otoscopic still images to recordings by an audiologist and ear, nose and throat surgeon (ENT) for diagnostic reliability and agreement in identifying middle-ear disease.

Design: A prospective cross-sectional study, asynchronously assessing video otoscopy, tympanometry and case history (Dx1). A subset was re-diagnosed (Dx2).

Clinician-rated quality of video otoscopy recordings and still images for the asynchronous assessment of middle-ear disease.

Introduction: Video otoscopy plays an important role in improving access to ear health services. This study investigated the clinician-rated quality of video otoscopy recordings and still images, and compared their suitability for asynchronous diagnosis of middle-ear disease.

Methods: Two hundred and eighty video otoscopy image-recording pairs were collected from 150 children (aged six months to 15 years) by an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist, audiologists, and trained research assistants, and independently rated by an audiologist and ENT surgeon.