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Normative values for tympanometry in 4-5-year-old children

Arto Palmu1, Tapani Rahko

  • 1National Public Health Institute, Helsinki, Finland. arto.palmu@ktl.fi

International Journal of Audiology
|October 23, 2003
PubMed

Insights

This study established normative values for tympanometric variables in 4-5-year-old children. Findings highlight the need for age-specific interpretation of static acoustical admittance (SAA) and tympanometric width (TW).

Area of Science:

  • Audiology
  • Pediatric Otolaryngology

Background:

  • Accurate interpretation of tympanometry requires age-specific normative data.
  • Previous research has not fully established these values for 4-5-year-old children.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine normative values for static acoustical admittance (SAA), tympanometric peak pressure (TPP), and tympanometric width (TW) in 4-5-year-old children.
  • To compare these values with those previously recorded at 24 months of age.

Main Methods:

  • Tympanometry was conducted on 756 healthy children aged 49-68 months during a vaccine efficacy trial follow-up.
  • Analysis focused on tympanograms from successfully obtained measurements in healthy ears.

Main Results:

  • Mean SAA was 0.52 cm3, mean TPP was -48 daPa, and mean TW was 101.
  • SAA significantly increased with age, while TPP and TW decreased compared to 24-month-old data.
  • Previous tympanostomy tube use resulted in higher SAA and lower TW.

Conclusions:

  • Normative values for SAA and TW in 4-5-year-old children differ significantly from younger age groups.
  • Age-specific normative data is crucial for accurate tympanometric interpretation in pediatric populations.
  • History of tympanostomy tubes impacts tympanometric variables, necessitating consideration during analysis.

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