Experimental Studies on Sound Transmission in the Human Ear: V. Function of Stapedial Prosthesis

Abstract

The transmission of sound in the ear in post-mortem human temporal bones was measured before and after insertion of stapedial prosthesis of different material. It is shown that the increasing weight of the prosthesis does not improve the transmission in the high-frequency range. Exposure to violent sound results in permanent transmission loss. The cause of this was identified in microscopic examination as a dislocation of the prosthesis, and is shown in a film.