Age effect on wideband absorbance in people with normal middle ear function: a systematic review

Area of Science:

• Audiology
• Otoacoustic Emissions
• Middle Ear Physiology

Background:

• Wideband Acoustic Immittance (WAI) provides detailed middle ear function assessment.
• Normative data for WAI measures like energy absorbance (EA) are crucial for accurate diagnosis.
• Understanding age-related changes in EA is essential for pediatric and adult audiology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize normative Wideband Acoustic Immittance (WAI) data for energy absorbance (EA).
• To investigate the influence of age on EA across a wide age spectrum, from neonates to 80 years.
• To establish age-specific reference ranges for EA.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of 30 publications reporting normative WAI data.
• Analysis of EA values at ambient pressure across various frequencies.
• Grouping of data into eight age categories from neonates to 80-year-olds.

Main Results:

• Combined EA values ranged from 0.403 to 0.581 across age groups.
• Highest EA observed in infants under 6 months; lowest in 6- and 12-month-olds.
• EA increased after 12 months, peaked at 10-13 years, and declined thereafter; significant frequency differences noted.

Conclusions:

• Age-specific normative data for EA are critical for accurate audiological interpretation.
• WAI measurements demonstrate significant age-dependent variations in middle ear energy absorbance.
• Clinical application requires consideration of established age-based EA trends for precise diagnosis.