Evaluation of age-related changes in middle-ear structures by wideband tympanometry

Abstract

Background

Presbycusis is bilateral sensorineural hearing loss associated with the progressive degeneration of cochlear and central auditory pathways with aging.

Aims/Objectives

We aimed to reveal age-related changes in middle ear function by using wideband tympanometry (WBT).

Materials and Methods

Fifty-eight patients diagnosed with presbycusis were compared to 52 audiologically healthy participants. WBT measurement was performed on both ears via wideband click stimulus with a tympanometer device using probe tone frequencies of 226–8000 Hz.

Results

There were no statistically significant differences detected among the resonance frequencies or maximum absorbance ratios measured in both ears between groups (p > .05). The mean absorbance of the right and left ears at 4000 and 8000 Hz was statistically higher in the patient group than in the healthy controls (r = 0.038, 0.030; l = 0.015, 0.012). Moreover, mean compliance values were found to be significantly lower in the patient group than in the control group (r = 0.030 and l = 0.040).

Conclusion

The significant differences detected in compliance and absorbance values for high frequencies in presbycusis patients were remarkable. Thus, it has been shown that WBT yields an advantage compared to traditional tympanometry in the diagnosis and treatment of middle ear diseases.

Chinese Abstract

背景：老年性耳聋是与耳蜗和中枢听觉通路随着年龄增加的进行性退化相关的双侧感觉神经性听力损失。

目的：我们旨在通过使用宽带鼓室测压 (WBT)来揭示与年龄相关的中耳功能变化。

材料和方法：将 58 名诊断为老年性耳聋的患者与 52 名听力健康的参与者进行比较。使用 226–8000 Hz 的探音频率的鼓室测压设备通过宽带点击刺激对双耳进行 WBT 测量。

结果：在两组之间, 没有检测到共振频率或双耳测量的最大吸光度比之间的统计学上的显著差异 (p > .05)。患者组在 4000 赫兹和 8000 赫兹的右耳和左耳的平均吸光度在统计学上高于健康对照组（r = 0.038, 0.030; l = 0.015, 0.012）。此外, 患者组的平均合规值显著低于对照组（r = 0.030 和 l = 0.040）。

结论：老年性耳聋患者高频顺应性和吸光度值差异显著。因此, 与传统的鼓室压力测量法相比, WBT 在诊断和治疗中耳疾病方面具有优势。

Keywords:

• Presbycusis
• Wideband tympanometry
• resonance frequency
• maximum absorbance ratio
• mean compliance

Disclosure statememt

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.