Gellé Test with Békésy Audiometry 1. Method and Procedure

Abstract

In a study of the Gellé test recorded by Békésy audiometry, the findings by previous authors were reviewed. Absolute pressure measurements can be obtained by means of the pneumophone method. In recording the effects of positive and negative air pressure variations in the external auditory canal, the effects on bone conduction are most important. There is general agreement on the fact that the low tones are most affected by altered pressure on the two sides of the tympanic membrane. Diminished sensitivity for low tones with positive meatal pressure is due to increased impedance of the transmitting system under this condition.

These findings are in agreement with the theory of the different behavior of mass lesions and stiffness lesions with regard to the audiometric threshold curves. A practical method is described with which the effects of calibrated air pressure in the external auditory meatus on hearing acuity can be measured through Békésy audiometry.

Patients suffering from conductive middle ear lesions behave differently from normal persons. In otosclerosis, the Gellé test gives specific audiometric findings, which agree with the observations during surgical interventions. After successful mobilization, stapedectomy, or fenestration, a previously negative Gellé test becomes positive (or normal), as long as the stapedial fixation is successfully corrected.