Effects of changes in dynamic characteristics of the middle ear on transient-evoked otoacoustic emissions

Transient-evoked otoacoustic emissions are transmitted through the middle ear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of dynamic properties of the transmission system on the measurability of transient otoacoustic emissions. The authors analyzed the presence of transient otoacoustic emissions in 48 children with serous otitis media regarding the tympanogram, presence and type of effusion and pure tone average findings. The results obtained in this research show the predominant absence of transient otoacoustic emissions in patients with type B tympanogram (69.1%) especially if the effusion is mucoid (77.5%) with the hearing loss of 15 decibel hearing level. This research shows that disorders in dynamic characteristics of the middle ear in patients with serous otitis obstruct the transmission of acoustic energy and affect the measurability of transient otoacoustic emissions, especially if the effusion is mucoid and hearing loss of 15 decibel hearing level.