Negative needle deflection of the acoustic reflex in otosclerotics

The preoperative audiometric and electroacoustic impedance test results of 24 surgically confirmed otosclerotics are reviewed with special attention given to the direction of needle deflection during acoustic reflex testing. Information on the direction of needle deflection during acoustic reflex testing was gathered at 5 or 10 dB above reflex threshold. In 12 of the 24 patients acoustic reflexes were present, and in each case the response included negative needle deflections. The presence or absence of the acoustic reflex seemed to be related to the reported duration of the hearing loss.