title: Eustachian Tube Opening Measurement by Sonotubometry Using Perfect Sequences for Healthy Adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to establish the rate variation of sonotubometric measurements using a specific broadband class of signals, the so-called perfect sequences (PSEQ) among healthy adults and to identify an optimal and technically simple test to provoke Eustachian tube (ET) openings.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sonotubometry was performed on 105 healthy adult subjects. Three different consecutive maneuvers were performed for ET opening: dry swallowing, water swallowing (a small [2 mL] and a large [5 mL] water bolus). Values of the amplitude and duration of each measured ET opening were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 6,300 measurements were performed. Sonotubometric ET openings were detected for all subjects but not for each measurement. In 6,180 of 6,300 measurements (98.1%), objective ET openings were registered. In 11 of 105 subjects (10.5%) at least one sonotubometric ET opening was not detected. The mean ET opening duration time and the mean sound amplitude similar for all performed test and were 270 (SD, ±96) msec, 13.48 (SD, ±6.57) dB.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sonotubometry based on PSEQ stimuli is a reliable methodology to assess the ET opening function in healthy subjects. Mean ET opening duration time and the mean sound wave amplitude performed similarly in all analysed tests, hence it might be concluded that dry (saliva) and water swallowing are reliable sonotubometric maneuvers and may be used when examining ET opening function. The size of a sip during water swallowing does not affect the sonotubometry result. All maneuvers can be equally used as the optimal test, and water swallow is most comfortable for the subject.
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Ear, Nose, Throat and Eye Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania.|Center of Ear, Nose and Throat Diseases, Vilnius University Hospital Santariskiu Clinics, Vilnius, Lithuania.
authors.forename: Vilma
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Beleskiene
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Ear, Nose, Throat and Eye Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania.|Center of Ear, Nose and Throat Diseases, Vilnius University Hospital Santariskiu Clinics, Vilnius, Lithuania.
authors.forename: Eugenijus
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lesinskas
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Ear, Nose, Throat and Eye Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania.|Center of Ear, Nose and Throat Diseases, Vilnius University Hospital Santariskiu Clinics, Vilnius, Lithuania.
authors.forename: Vaida
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Januskiene
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Mechanics, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Vilnius, Lithuania.
authors.forename: Kristina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Daunoraviciene
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Ear, Nose, Throat and Eye Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania.|Center of Ear, Nose and Throat Diseases, Vilnius University Hospital Santariskiu Clinics, Vilnius, Lithuania.
authors.forename: Darius
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rauba
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Ear, Nose, Throat and Eye Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania.|Center of Ear, Nose and Throat Diseases, Vilnius University Hospital Santariskiu Clinics, Vilnius, Lithuania.
authors.forename: Justinas
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ivaska
keywords: Acoustic Impedance Tests; Adult; Eustachian Tube