title: Audiometric findings with voluntary tensor tympani contraction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tensor tympani contraction may have a "signature" audiogram. This study demonstrates audiometric findings during voluntary tensor tympani contraction.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five volunteers possessing the ability to voluntarily contract their tensor tympani muscles were identified and enrolled. Tensor tympani contraction was confirmed with characteristic tympanometry findings. Study subjects underwent conventional audiometry. Air conduction and bone conduction threshold testing was performed with and without voluntary tensor tympani contraction.
  
  
  METHODS
  Changes in air conduction and bone conduction thresholds during voluntary tensor tympani contraction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Audiometric results demonstrate a low frequency mixed hearing loss resulting from tensor tympani contraction. Specifically, at 250 Hz, air conduction thresholds increased by 22 dB and bone conduction thresholds increased by 10 dB.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Previous research has demonstrated a low frequency conductive hearing loss in the setting of tensor tympanic contraction. This is the first study to demonstrate a low frequency mixed hearing loss associated with tensor tympani contraction. This finding may aid in the diagnosis of disorders resulting from abnormal tensor tympani function. Tensor tympani contraction should be included on the differential for low frequency mixed hearing loss.
authors.affiliation: Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Brandon
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0652-2235
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wickens
authors.affiliation: School of Human Communication Disorders, Dalhousie University, Hamilton, NS, Canada.
authors.forename: Duncan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Floyd
authors.affiliation: Division of Otolaryngology, QEII Health Sciences Centre, Dalhousie University, Room 3184, 3rd Floor Dickson Building, VG site, 1278 Tower Road, Hamilton, NS, B3H 2Y9, Canada. m.bance@dal.ca.
authors.forename: Manohar
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bance
mesh_terms: D000158:Acoustic Impedance Tests; D001299:Audiometry; D001309:Auditory Threshold / Q000502:physiology; D001844:Bone Conduction / Q000502:physiology; D046089:Hearing Loss, Mixed Conductive-Sensorineural / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D013719:Tensor Tympani / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Audiology; Audiometry; Middle ear; Tensor tympani