Middle Ear Flashcards
What evokes the acoustic reflex?
Evoked by loud sound (>=80 dB pure tone; >=65 dB noise, SPL)
What is the role of the Acoustic Reflex?
To improve our perception of sounds by
1. protect cochlear from intense noise
2. Reduce masking from low-frequencies
3. Reduce hearing of own vocalization
4. prevent roll over of speech perception at high sound level
What causes a delay in the acoustic reflex?
Delay in neural circuit as well as Musclesc (20- 100ms)
Explain the relationship between binaural and unilaterality:
Binaural response to unilateral stimulation
What occurs to muscles in acoustic reflex at the time of vocalization?
When vocalizing, muscle contracts in advance (50-70 ms in chicken)
What else can evoke an acoustic reflex except for loud sounds?
Contraction of ME muscles can also be evoked by irritation of face, ear canal, etc. (Stronger for tensor tympani muscle)
What are the two types of Acoustic Reflex Measurements?
Direct and Indirect measurements
What is the Direct measurement of Acoustic reflex? (2)
Electromyogram
Direct observation through perforated TM
What is the indirect measurement of Acoustic reflex? (3)
- Measure deflection of eardrum
- Measure air pressure in sealed ear canal
- Measurement of ME impedance: AR changes ME impedance. This is an important diagnosis tool!!
In impedance, how do mass and stiffness influence frequency? (2)
XC = k/(2.pi.f) Stiffness decreases with frequency
XM = 2.pi.fm Mass increases with frequency
Explain what happens in the concept of admittance vs Impedance:
Y=1/XC =2f/k = 2fV/(c2) = kV
Z inverse XC=1/kV): Z for air in V with solid wall (R is ignored).
Admittance is proportional related to volume
It was shown that Impedance is inversely related to
Impedance is inversely related to Volume
Z inverse 1/V: smaller the V, larger the Z
What is the relationship between impedance and volume?
Acoustic impedance can be expressed as volume: smaller the volume, larger the impedance
If we say the impedance of a middle ear (ME) is 2cc:
It means the impedance of this ME equals to the impedance of 2cc of air at standard condition (a 2cc cell with solid wall)
What is Electroacoustic impedance test?
A microphone picks up sound pressure level in the ear canal which is influenced by ME impedance and volume of the cavity
What is Equivalent Volume?
The amount air volume in a solid cavity that will have the same impedance as the tested auditory system
What are the standard conditions of Equivalent Volume? (3)
Standard air pressure at sea level (1Pa)
Defined temperature (20 Celsius)
Cell with solid wall
What is the comparison between Ve and real ear volume?
Real V has soft end and therefore smaller impedance as compared with the cell of the same size but surrounded by solid wall. Therefore, a solid cell must have a larger volume to have equal impedance as that of the real ear. Therefore, Ve is larger than V in real ear.
How does the volume change in the external ear tell the impedance of middle ear (ME)?
Eardrum is acoustically transparent.
The middle ear impedance change will change the stiffness of the eardrum thus changing the Ve of the external ear
What is the principle of an impedance bridge?
To match the impedance until sound level detected by mic is minimal
If stiffness is increased when AR is activated, Ve will be ?
Decreased
What will happen to Ve if MD is full of water?
Decreased
What will happen to Ve if there is a large perforation on eardrum?
Increased equivalent volume (1 to 5.5 mL) suggests a perforation
What will happen to Ve if the bone chain is disconnected?
Increased
How does changing air pressure allows detecting of middle ear pressure?
The OE pressure that results in the smallest impedance is the pressure of ME.