Session 2: Objective testing Flashcards
What is tympanometry?
Objective measure of the compliance or mobility of the tympanic membrane
- it works as It assesses eardrum mobility as a function of changing air pressures in the ear canal.
What is the standard probe tone for adults in tympanometry?
A 226 Hz probe tone is used for adults.
What is the standard probe tone for infants under 6 months in tympanometry?
A 1000 Hz probe tone is used for infants younger than 6 months.
define admittance
- Amount of
acoustic energy
that flows into
ME system - Denoted as Y
and is
measured in
acoustic mmhos
define impedance
- Total opposition
of the middle
ear system to
the flow of
acoustic energy - It is denoted as
Z and measured
in acoustic
ohms
define susceptance
- System is
susceptible to
allowing sound to
enter - Therefore is the
compliment of
admittance - Units are in mhos
(in electrical terms
these are now
measured in
Siemens)
define reactance
- Opposition to
allowing sound
entry - Therefore the
compliment of
impedance - Units are in
ohms
How is the middle ear (ME) system like a compliant spring?
The ME system behaves like a spring, transferring energy between the mass of the eardrum and the stiffness of the ME system, similar to a bungee jump where energy oscillates between the spring and mass.
How does the bungee jump analogy explain energy transfer in the ME system?
Mass (e.g., the jumper or eardrum): Moves due to external energy (acoustic energy for the eardrum).
Spring (e.g., stiffness of ME system): Absorbs and stores energy as the mass moves forward, then releases it to move the mass back.
This oscillation continues, transferring energy between the mass and spring.
What determines the opposing factor in the ME system?
- If the system moves slower: The spring (stiffness) is the opposing factor.
- If the system moves faster: The mass (inertia) is the opposing factor.
What happens if no other force is applied to the ME system?
The system will oscillate back and forth at its resonant frequency, where energy transfer between mass and stiffness is most efficient.
What contributes to the stiffness in the ME system?
- ME ligaments and
tendons - Tympanic membrane
- The air enclosed in the
ear canal and middle
ear space
How does the eardrum behave in this model?
- The eardrum acts as the mass, moving due to acoustic energy.
- It transfers this energy to the stiffness of the ME system, and the process reverses, sending energy back to the eardrum mass.
What contributes to the mass in the middle ear (ME) system?
- Pars flacida of the TM
- Ossicles
- Perilymph in the
cochlea - Mesenchyme clinging
to the ossicles in
infants
What contributes to the friction in the ME system?
- Tympanic membrane
- ME tendons and
ligaments - Narrow passages
between the ME cavity
and the mastoid - Viscosity of the
perilymph and the
mucous lining of the
ME cavity
Why is 226 Hz used in tympanometry for adults?
The 226 Hz probe tone is used because it is below the average adult resonance frequency of 900 Hz, making the system stiffness-controlled at this frequency.
Why are mass and friction effects minimal at 226 Hz?
At this frequency, the stiffness dominates, and mass and friction effects are very small, allowing for more accurate measurement of tympanic membrane compliance.
What term is commonly used for tympanometric measurements at 226 Hz?
Tympanometric instruments often use the term ‘compliance’ instead of ‘admittance’ at this frequency.
What does calibration at 226 Hz represent?
A:
At 226 Hz, the true compliance value is equivalent to the volume of air in the ear canal, measured in milliliters (ml) or cubic centimeters (cc).
What is the relationship between admittance and cavity size at 226 Hz?
Admittance is 1 mmho when measured in a 1 ml (cc) cavity, providing a standardized reference for compliance measurements.
How is equivalent ear canal volume obtained?
By using air pressure at an impedance mismatch setting, the tympanometer can calculate the equivalent ear canal volume in ml (cc).
What does a Type A tympanogram indicate?
- Characteristics: Peaks at 0 daPa.
- Indication: Normal middle ear function.
What does a Type Ad tympanogram indicate?
- Characteristics: Unusually high peak.
- Indication: Suggests ossicular discontinuity (e.g., dislocation of middle ear bones).
What does a Type As tympanogram indicate?
- Characteristics: Reduced peak.
- Indication: Suggests ossicular fixation (e.g., stapes is stiffened).
What does a Type B tympanogram indicate?
- Characteristics: Flat, no peak.
- Indication: Suggests reduced movement due to middle ear fluid, space-occupying tumor, or other obstruction.
What does a Type B tympanogram with an abnormally large volume indicate?
Indication: Indicates perforation of the tympanic membrane or a patent grommet.
What does a Type B tympanogram with a small volume indicate?
Indication: Suggests the probe is against the ear canal wall or the ear canal is blocked with cerumen (earwax).
What does a Type C tympanogram indicate?
Characteristics: Negative pressure.
Indication: Indicates Eustachian tube dysfunction.
What does it mean that the neonatal ear is a mass-dominated system?
- A mass-dominated system is one where the mass of the components primarily influences the system’s behavior rather than stiffness or compliance.
*Ossicles: Small bones in the middle ear.
*Residual mesenchyme: Tissue around the ossicles.
*Perilymph: Fluid in the cochlea.
*Pars flaccida: A more compliant section of the tympanic membrane.
what are some changes that happen in a neonates Eustachian tube Middle ear?
- Initially osseous portion of the canal is underdeveloped and it becomes distensible when pressure is
applied - Bony portion of the EC forms over time
- Decrease in the mass of the middle ear due to mesenchyme loss
- Change in bone density
- Ossicular joints show a tightening
- Tympanic ring fuses
- Increases in the size of the ear canal, middle ear cavity and mastoid
- Change in tympanic membrane orientation and flexibility
What frequency to use for neonates tympanometry?
- Suggested to use a probe tone of 1000Hz for neonates
What is neonatal middle ear (ME) resonance, and how does it differ from adult ME resonance?
- Neonatal ME resonance is lower than adult ME resonance, meaning neonates amplify and transmit low-frequency sounds more effectively.
- This occurs because neonatal middle ear structures are softer, smaller, and less stiff, including:
*Underdeveloped ossicles.
*Residual mesenchyme tissue.
*Increased compliance of the tympanic membrane and ear canal walls. - By approximately 4 months of age, ME resonance reaches adult levels as the structures mature.
- Implications:
*Neonates hear low frequencies better than high frequencies.
*Hearing tests and diagnostics must account for this developmental difference.
*Speech perception and sound localization improve as ME resonance matures. - Does not attain adult values until roughly 4 months of age