Wideband Tympanometry

Abstract

The wideband tympanometry (WBT) assesses the middle ear function with a transient wideband stimulus in order to capture the middle ear behavior at a wide range of frequencies. Data in the literature suggest that the WBT has more sensibility to detect middle ear disorders than the traditional tympanometry. In this context, pathologies, which might be more easily identified/monitored by WBT, include otosclerosis, flaccid eardrums, ossicular chain discontinuity with semicircular canal dehiscence, and negative middle ear pressure with middle ear effusion. The chapter presents information on classical tympanometry, the multifrequency tympanometry equivalent coded as WBT, clarification of terms used in WBT measurements, and a short overview of clinical applications in infants and adults.

A Deep Learning Approach for Detecting Otitis Media From Wideband Tympanometry Measurements

“…Tympanometry provides quantitative information about the presence of fluid in the middle ear, about the mobility of the tympanic-ossicular system, and about the volume of the external auditory canal. The standard tympanometry method has limitations, including lack of specific norms for different population types (children, infants, adults), as the eardrum and external ear canal are anatomically different in children and adults [4], and specific norms for different diagnostic conditions such as OM. The accuracy of tympanometry in detecting OME has been examined by Palmu et al [12] and Harris et al [13].…”

“…The proportion of absorbed energy changes as the changes in pressure alter the eardrum tension and displace the attached middle ear structures. These changes are typically plotted as a tympanogram [4], which is a graph of admittance versus pressure, since this provides the greatest diagnostic utility.…”

“…The use of a wideband stimulus (i.e., short duration rectangular pulse or a chirp covering the range of 226Hz to 8000Hz) has been shown to be more efficient and precise for middle ear assessment [7]- [11] than a normal 226 Hz or 1 kHz tympanogram, since it simultaneously determines the characteristics of the middle ear over the full range of the audiometrically most important frequencies. Because of the presence of multiple frequencies in the transient stimuli, WBT is less susceptible to myogenic noise, which originates from the patient's movements [4]. Clinical assessment of OM using WBT could benefit from an automatic diagnostic system designed to assist medical experts when diagnosing patients.…”

The Role of Wideband Tympanometry in the Diagnosis of Meniere's Disease

“…Traditional tympanometry assesses the impedance of the ME at a frequency of 226 Hz. Still, this traditional measurement method yields different results depending on the anatomical characteristics of the ME cavity, which may influence the test results (20). WBT employs 1/24-octave frequency intervals ranging from 226 to 8,000 Hz, delivered into the ear canal by a descending pressure sweep between + 250 to −350 dPa (4).…”

“…WBT employs 1/24-octave frequency intervals ranging from 226 to 8,000 Hz, delivered into the ear canal by a descending pressure sweep between + 250 to −350 dPa (4). Therefore, WBT is less vulnerable to myogenic noise from the patient movement since the transient stimulus involves multiple frequencies (20). As a result, WBT provides a more trustworthy diagnostic value than traditional tympanometry.…”