title: How we do it: tympanoplasty: are different three- and four-frequency averages comparable?
abstract: The results of tympanoplasty may be reported in a variety of ways. Pure-tone audiometry underpins reporting, yet there is no constancy in the pure-tone threshold average used. We examine the relationship between the 0.5, 1, 2 kHz, 0.5, 1, 2, 3 kHz and 0.5, 1, 2, 4 kHz pure-tone audiometry averages. Using audiometric data collected for 77 patients, we have compared hearing threshold using three different frequency averages derived from pure-tone audiometry. The 0.5, 1, 2 kHz, 0.5, 1, 2, 3 kHz and 0.5, 1, 2, 4 kHz three- and four-frequency averages are significantly different, this difference being primarily determined by the changes in the 4-kHz threshold. Using an average including 4 kHz results in 8% few patients achieving an ABG closure to within either 10 dB or 20 dB. When comparing surgical results with others, surgeons should use reports employing comparable audiometric measures of analysis.
authors.affiliation: Department of ORL-HNS, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. patrickd@healthotago.co.nz
authors.forename: P J D
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Dawes
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Welch
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone / Q000379:methods*; D001302:Audiometry, Speech; D001309:Auditory Threshold; D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006314:Hearing Loss, Conductive / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010035:Otitis Media, Suppurative / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014433:Tympanoplasty