Wideband Tympanometry Findings in Healthy Neonates.

Abstract

Objectives:  The objective of the present study was to describe pressurized wideband absorbance at tympanometric peak pressure (WBA_TPP) and 0 daPa (WBA₀) in healthy Caucasian neonates.

Subjects:  A total of 249 ears from 249 neonates who passed a test battery of 1,000-Hz tympanometry, distortion product otoacoustic emissions and automated auditory brainstem response were included in the study.

Method:  WBA_TPP and WBA₀ were averaged in one-third octave frequencies from 0.25 to 8 kHz. Data were statistically analyzed for effects of frequency, ear, and gender.

Results:  Normative WBA_TPP and WBA₀ data obtained from healthy neonates are presented. There was no significant difference between WBA_TPP and WBA₀ at all frequencies. Both WBA_TPP and WBA₀ demonstrated a multipeaked pattern with maxima of 0.80 and 0.72 at 1.25 to 1.5 and 6 kHz, respectively, and two minima of 0.45 and 0.49 at 0.4 to 0.5 and 4 kHz, respectively. The effects of ear and gender were not significant for both WBA measures.

Conclusion:  Pressurized WBA_TPP and WBA₀ data were provided for healthy Caucasian neonates. They will be useful for the assessment of middle ear function and assist in differentiating between conductive and sensorineural hearing losses in neonates.