Results of multiple-frequency tympanometry measures in normal and otosclerotic middle ears

Abstract

Tympanometry is a non-invasive, quick, and inexpensive method for examining the middle-ear function. Its limited value in differentiating otosclerotic from normal middle ears caused researchers to develop new methods for evaluation of middle ears. Resonant frequency had been found to be higher in otosclerotic middle ears than normals. We conducted multiple-frequency tympanometry measurements in 25 surgically confirmed otosclerotic ears and 100 normal ears. Mean middle-ear resonant frequency for the otosclerotic group was found to be 1190 Hz and mean middle-ear resonant frequency of the control group was 934.6 Hz (p<0.001). With a cut off value of 1025 Hz (based on 95% confidence interval), sensitivity was 80% and specificity was 82%. The present findings confirm the advantage of the resonant frequency estimation over conventional tympanometry in detecting middle-ear status and mechanics in patients with otosclerosis. As a conclusion, detecting resonant frequency when evaluating patients for otosclerosis must be an essential part of examination. Nevertheless, further investigation is necessary for better diagnosis of otosclerosis preoperatively.

The Profile of Otoacoustic Emissions and Multifrequency Tympanometry in Otosclerotic Patients Undergoing Two Types of Stapes Surgery: Small Fenestra and Microtraumatic Stapedotomy

“…The estimated mean resonant frequency values in our study in normal subjects and otosclerotic patients before any surgical intervention are also in accordance with the available literature data [22]. Stapes surgery resulted in a significant reduction of the mean resonant frequency value in our series.…”

Diagnostic Usefulness of Multifrequency Tympanometry for Ménière’s Disease

“…Conductance G is maximal at the resonance frequency (RF) when B = 0. It has been shown that MFT is useful for detecting ossicular chain diseases, especially otosclerosis [Funasaka and Kumakawa, 1988;Polka, 1997, 2002;Zhao et al, 2002;Ogut et al, 2008]. However, previous studies have suggested that static acoustic compliance at higher frequencies and the RF (a frequency at which susceptance is nearly zero) can provide a noninvasive and indirect means to measure perilymphatic pressure at the footplate [Gersdorff et al, 1980;Bianchedi et al, 1996].…”

Multi-Frequency Tympanometry: Clinical Applications for the Assessment of the Middle Ear Status

“…In addition, Coletti was the first to show not only that the RF is higher in otoscleotic ears, but also that there is a tendency towards lower values in ears that had a total stapedectomy, compared to the ones where the stapedial tendon was preserved, thus confirming that preservation of the stapedial tendon adds significant stiffness to the system [6,21]. His results were later confirmed by other authors [6,13,[16][17][18]. Higher RF is also found in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) [22,23].…”

“…RF is the most useful parameter measured by multi-frequency tympanometry, with the published data showing a relative consistency in normal adults. The mean RF is around 950 Hz, ranging from 650 to 1,400 Hz [3,[8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20] (Table 1).…”