Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 6, 2026
06:54
Performing Repeated Intraoperative Impedance Telemetry Measurements during Cochlear Implantation
Published on: August 4, 2023
Pressure-Less Acoustic Immittance-Derived Middle Ear Resonance Frequency: Repeatability and Comparison with
Zsuzsanna Piros1,2,3, Szilárd Gyula Rezes1, Rita Kiss3
1Szilvássy Judit Audiology Centre, Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, University of Debrecen Clinical Centre, Nagyerdei St. 98, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary.
Audiology Research
|July 24, 2026
Summary
Pressure-less acoustic immittance (PLAI) shows higher repeatability than multifrequency tympanometry (MFT) for middle ear resonance frequency measurements. PLAI offers more consistent clinical interpretation due to lower variability.
Area of Science:
- Audiology
- Otoacoustic Emissions
- Middle Ear Physiology
Background:
- Evaluating the clinical consistency of resonance frequency (RF) measurements is crucial for accurate middle ear assessment.
- Conventional multifrequency tympanometry (MFT) has limitations in repeatability and reliability.
- Pressure-less acoustic immittance (PLAI) is a newer technique for acoustic immittance measurements.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the intra-session repeatability, reliability, and clinical consistency of resonance frequency (RF) derived from pressure-less acoustic immittance (PLAI).
- To compare PLAI-derived RF measurements with those from conventional multifrequency tympanometry (MFT) under identical clinical conditions.
Main Methods:
- A pilot methodological comparison study involving 15 subjects (30 ears).
- Resonance frequency (RF) measurements were obtained using both multifrequency tympanometry (MFT) and pressure-less acoustic immittance (PLAI).
- Three consecutive measurements per ear for each method; Bland-Altman analysis for agreement; repeatability assessed using standard statistical metrics.
Main Results:
- Pressure-less acoustic immittance (PLAI) demonstrated significantly lower intra-session variability compared to multifrequency tympanometry (MFT).
- PLAI showed a lower coefficient of variation (3.2% vs. 9.3%) and higher intraclass correlation coefficients (0.83 vs. 0.60) than MFT.
- Bland-Altman analysis indicated a systematic difference, with mean bias of 580.7 Hz, confirming the methods are not interchangeable.
Conclusions:
- Pressure-less acoustic immittance (PLAI) exhibits superior intra-session repeatability and lower variability than multifrequency tympanometry (MFT).
- PLAI-derived resonance frequency (RF) may offer a more consistent parameter for middle ear assessment.
- Resonance frequency values should be interpreted within method-specific frameworks due to observed differences between PLAI and MFT.
