title: Otoacoustic emissions at compensated middle ear pressure in children.
abstract: Middle ear pathology has a negative effect on the detectability of otoacoustic emissions. In this study, we investigated the effect of compensating a deviant static middle ear pressure while measuring transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAEs). In 59 children (mean age 4 years, 5 months) TEOAEs were measured twice in one session: first at ambient pressure and than at compensated middle ear pressure. On average, TEOAE amplitudes increased by 1.9 dB as a result of middle ear pressure compensation. The amplitude increase was largest in frequency bands centred at 1 and 2 kHz and a statistically significant correlation was found between the amount of compensated pressure and the TEOAE amplitude increase. In the higher frequency bands centred at 3 and 4 kHz, TEOAE amplitudes were almost insensitive to pressure compensation. These results show that measuring OAEs at compensated middle ear pressure enhances the amplitude of TEOAEs, and thus improves the detectability.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Maastricht, The Netherlands. jhof@skno.azm.nl
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Hof
authors.forename: L J C
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Anteunis
authors.forename: M N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Chenault
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: van Dijk
mesh_terms: D000158:Acoustic Impedance Tests; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004432:Ear, Middle / Q000502:physiology*; D005064:Eustachian Tube; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008876:Middle Ear Ventilation; D017084:Otoacoustic Emissions, Spontaneous / Q000502:physiology*; D011312:Pressure; D014432:Tympanic Membrane