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Clinical application of tympanometry in aviators
1Center of Aviation Medicine, General Hospital of the Air Force, Beijing, China.
Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine
|June 1, 1988
Summary
Tympanometry effectively evaluates middle ear status and eustachian tube function in aviators. It helps differentiate between acute and chronic aerotitis media, aiding in diagnosis and management.
Area of Science:
- Aerospace Medicine
- Otolaryngology
Background:
- Tympanometry is a diagnostic tool for assessing middle ear function.
- Eustachian tube dysfunction is a concern for aviators due to pressure changes.
- Aerotitis media, an ear condition related to aviation, requires accurate diagnosis.
Observation:
- A study examined 274 male aviators using tympanometry, impedance audiometry, and pure tone audiometry.
- Altitude chamber tests were also conducted to simulate flight conditions.
- Normal static compliance averaged 0.75 cc.
Findings:
- Type A tympanograms were common in normal aviators and those with chronic aerotitis media in remission.
- Type B and Type C tympanograms were indicative of acute aerotitis media.
- Patients with chronic aerotitis media showed abnormal responses to inflation-deflation tympanometric tests.
Implications:
- Tympanometry is a valuable adjunct for diagnosing aerotitis media in aviators.
- The findings aid in distinguishing between acute and chronic forms of the condition.
- This supports better audiological management strategies for aviators.