104
Views
30
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Original Article

Sweep-Frequency Tympanometry: Its Development and Diagnostic Value

, &
Pages 366-379 | Published online: 07 Jul 2009
 

Abstract

This reports a newly developed tympanometric system using a sweep-frequency probe tone. For a sweep-frequency tone ranging from 220 to 2 000 Hz, measurements of sound pressure (P) and phase (Θ) were performed at ear canal pressures of 0 and -200 mm H20. The results were expressed as a sound pressure curve (P0-P-200 m decibels), a phase curve (Θ0-200 in degrees) and a polar curve (P0-P-200, Θ0-200) against probe tone frequency. Both the frequency at which the sound pressure curve crossed the 0-dB difference line and the peak frequency of the phase curve shifted lower than normal for ossicular disruption and higher than normal for ossicular fixation. Changes in the sound pressure curve and in the phase curve were exaggerated for ossicular disruption and limited for fixation. As the result of these, the polar curve showed an expanded type for disruption and a compressed type for fixation. A review of 220-Hz tympanograms and of the polar curves for 10 patients demonstrated that the latter permitted a better discrimination among ossicular disorders.

Reprints and Corporate Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

To request a reprint or corporate permissions for this article, please click on the relevant link below:

Academic Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

Obtain permissions instantly via Rightslink by clicking on the button below:

If you are unable to obtain permissions via Rightslink, please complete and submit this Permissions form. For more information, please visit our Permissions help page.