Evaluation of age-related changes in middle-ear structures by wideband tympanometry

Presbycusis is bilateral sensorineural hearing loss associated with the progressive degeneration of cochlear and central auditory pathways with aging.

We aimed to reveal age-related changes in middle ear function by using wideband tympanometry (WBT).

Fifty-eight patients diagnosed with presbycusis were compared to 52 audiologically healthy participants. WBT measurement was performed on both ears via wideband click stimulus with a tympanometer device using probe tone frequencies of 226-8000 Hz.

There were no statistically significant differences detected among the resonance frequencies or maximum absorbance ratios measured in both ears between groups (p > .05). The mean absorbance of the right and left ears at 4000 and 8000 Hz was statistically higher in the patient group than in the healthy controls (r = 0.038, 0.030; l = 0.015, 0.012). Moreover, mean compliance values were found to be significantly lower in the patient group than in the control group (r = 0.030 and l = 0.040).

The significant differences detected in compliance and absorbance values for high frequencies in presbycusis patients were remarkable. Thus, it has been shown that WBT yields an advantage compared to traditional tympanometry in the diagnosis and treatment of middle ear diseases.