title: Correlation between the characteristics of resonance and aging of the external ear.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Aging causes changes in the external ear as a collapse of the external auditory canal and tympanic membrane senile. Knowing them is appropriate for the diagnosis of hearing loss and selection of hearing aids. For this reason, the study aimed to verify the influence of the anatomical changes of the external ear resonance in the auditory canal in the elderly.
  
  
  METHODS
  The sample consisted of objective measures of the external ear of elderly with collapse (group A), senile tympanic membrane (group B) and without changing the external auditory canal or tympanic membrane (group C) and adults without changing the external ear (group D). In the retrospective/clinical study were performed comparisons of measures of individuals with and without alteration of the external ear through the gain and response external ear resonant frequency and the primary peak to the right ear.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In groups A, B and C was no statistically significant difference between Real Ear Unaided Response (REUR) and Real Ear Unaided Gain (REUG), but not for the peak frequency. For groups A and B were shown significant differences in REUR and REUG. Between the C and D groups were significant statistics to the REUR and REUG, but not for the frequency of the primary peak.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Changes influence the external ear resonance, decreasing its amplitude. However, the frequency of the primary peak is not affected.
authors.affiliation: School of Odontology of Bauru, Universidade de São Paulo, Bauru, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Aline Papin Roedas da
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: School of Odontology of Bauru, Universidade de São Paulo, Bauru, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Wanderléia Quinhoneiro
authors.initials: WQ
authors.lastname: Blasca
authors.affiliation: School of Odontology of Bauru, Universidade de São Paulo, Bauru, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: José Roberto Pereira
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Lauris
authors.affiliation: Hospital de Reabilitação de Anomalias Craniofaciais, Universidade de São Paulo, Bauru, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jerusa Roberta Massola de
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Oliveira
mesh_terms: D000158:Acoustic Impedance Tests; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D004431:Ear, External / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006310:Hearing Aids; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014432:Tympanic Membrane / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult