Investigation of Age and Gender Effects on the Middle Ear With Wideband Tympanometry in Adults

Author:

Kavruk Hatice1,Öztürk Burak2

Affiliation:

1. Department of Speech and Language Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, Turkey

2. Department of Audiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, İzmir Bakirçay University, İzmir, Turkey.

Abstract

Objectives: Several studies have reported the effects of age and gender on the middle ear of adults using wideband acoustic immittance (WAI) that measures middle ear function over a range of frequencies rather than the traditional measures with a single probe tone. Although these results are often based on WAI measurements under ambient pressure, using WAI under varying ear-canal pressures (wideband tympanometry [WBT]) may be able to provide more information about age and gender effects on the middle ear. The aim of this study is to examine the effects of age and gender on the middle ear with WBT in three different age groups consisting of young, middle-aged, and older adults. Design: A total of 95 adults with normal middle ear function were assessed, including 32 young adults (16 men, 16 women, aged 20 to 39 years), 31 middle-aged adults (15 men, 16 women, aged 41 to 60 years), and 32 older adults (16 men, 16 women, aged 65 to 82 years). WBT measurements were performed from 226 to 8000 Hz using Interacoustics Titan. Energy absorbance data at tympanometric peak pressure (EATPP) and ambient pressure (EAAP) at 1/3 octave frequencies, and resonance frequency (RF) data were analyzed according to age and gender variables. Results: Analysis results showed that the mean EATPP was significantly higher from 500 to 794 Hz and at 5040 and 6350 Hz, and significantly lower from 1587 to 3175 Hz in older adults compared with young adults. The mean EAAP was significantly lower from 1587 to 3175 Hz, and significantly higher at 5040 and 6350 Hz in older adults compared with young adults. There was no significant difference in the mean EATPP and mean EAAP at any frequency between young and middle-aged adults, and middle-aged and older adults. RF was significantly lower in older adults compared with young adults. In all age groups, men had higher mean EATPP and mean EAAP at lower frequencies and lower mean EATPP and mean EAAP at higher frequencies than women. Men had slightly lower RF than women in young and older adults, while men had significantly lower RF than women in middle-aged adults. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that there are possible age and gender effects on the middle ear that may affect the mechanical transmission of sound. It may be useful to consider this finding in clinical evaluation in adults of different ages and genders, and to establish age- and gender-specific WBT norms in the adult population.

Publisher

Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)

Subject

Speech and Hearing,Otorhinolaryngology

Cited by 1 articles. 订阅此论文施引文献 订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献

同舟云学术

1.学者识别学者识别

2.学术分析学术分析

3.人才评估人才评估

"同舟云学术"是以全球学者为主线,采集、加工和组织学术论文而形成的新型学术文献查询和分析系统,可以对全球学者进行文献检索和人才价值评估。用户可以通过关注某些学科领域的顶尖人物而持续追踪该领域的学科进展和研究前沿。经过近期的数据扩容,当前同舟云学术共收录了国内外主流学术期刊6万余种,收集的期刊论文及会议论文总量共计约1.5亿篇,并以每天添加12000余篇中外论文的速度递增。我们也可以为用户提供个性化、定制化的学者数据。欢迎来电咨询!咨询电话:010-8811{复制后删除}0370

www.globalauthorid.com

TOP

Copyright © 2019-2024 北京同舟云网络信息技术有限公司
京公网安备11010802033243号  京ICP备18003416号-3