Middle Ear Function Measures From Single Component Tympanometry to Wideband Acoustic Immittance

Abstract

This paper highlights collective research findings about middle ear measures using standard single- and multi-frequency tympanometry measures and wideband acoustic immittance (WAI) measurements, including wideband energy reflectance and wideband absorbance tympanometry. The paper also provides a review of normative and pathological findings with WAI measures. Current research suggests that WAI measures provide faster and more accurate assessment of middle ear status than standard tympanometry measures in both infants and adults. WAI measures assess the middle ear across a wide range of frequencies, which help with differential diagnoses of middle ear disorders. With this new advance in middle ear measures and promising research findings, audiologists are encouraged to incorporate WAI measures in the basic audiologic test battery as a screening and a diagnostic tool for middle ear disorders and for newborn hearing screening.