Tympanometric values in young Malay adults: preliminary data.
BACKGROUND
The present study aimed to obtain preliminary tympanometric data of young Malay adults and to compare the results between genders.


METHODS
96 undergraduate students (49 males and 47 females), aged 19-25 (mean and standard deviation 21.14 +/- 1.31) years, participated in this study. Otoscopic examination, pure tone audiometry, qualitative tympanogram and ipsilateral acoustic reflex were measured to ensure a clear ear canal, normal hearing and normal middle ear function, prior to tympanometric measurement. As a result, a total of 154 ears (80 ears from males and 74 ears from females) were selected for further statistical analyses. The tympanometric parameters measured were peak compensated static acoustic admittance (Peak Y(tm)), tympanometric width (TW) and equivalent ear canal volume (V(ea)).


RESULTS
The results showed that the mean Peak Y(tm), V(ea) and TW for males were 0.81 mmhos, 1.48 cubic cm and 113.67 daPa, respectively. The mean Peak Y(tm), V(ea) and TW for females were 0.63 mmhos, 1.12 cubic cm and 98.04 daPa, respectively. Males were found to have significantly higher mean V(ea) and mean Peak Y(tm) than females. However no significant gender difference was observed in the mean TW.


CONCLUSIONS
The current study suggests that young Malay adults may require gender-specific Peak Y(tm) and V(ea) values when implementing a quantitative approach in tympanogram interpretation.
Wahab
N A Abdul
NA
Department of Audiology and Speech Sciences, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. alaudin@medic.ukm.my
Rashid
M F N
MF
D000158:Acoustic Impedance Tests / Q000379:methods*; D000162:Acoustics; D001299:Audiometry / Q000379:methods; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D004424:Ear Canal / Q000473:pathology; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia; D008297:Male; D038781:Otoscopy / Q000379:methods; D012016:Reference Values; D012737:Sex Factors; D055815:Young Adult