Measuring middle ear admittance in newborns using 1000 Hz tympanometry: a comparison of methodologies

The present study aimed to compare three measures to estimate middle ear admittance in neonates using 1000 Hz tympanometry. Data were obtained from 36 full-term newborns, aged between 24 and 123 hours, who passed a transient evoked otoacoustic emissions test and assessed using a Madsen Otoflex impedance meter. The results showed that the mean middle ear admittances obtained by compensating for the susceptance and conductance components at a pressure of 200 daPa and -400 daPa (Y(CC200) = 1.00 mmho and Y(CC-400) = 1.24 mmho, respectively) were significantly greater than that using the traditional baseline compensation method (Y(BC) = 0.65 mmho). Although Y(CC-400) has attained the highest mean value, it has the lowest test-retest reliability. Hence, the component compensation approach compensated at 200 daPa holds promise as an alternative method for estimating middle ear admittance in neonates. Further research to evaluate its test performance using clinical decision theory is required to determine its clinical significance.