[Impedance audiometry with 3-probe frequency]

Abstract

The 3-probe frequency (226, 678, 1000Hz) admittance (Y), susceptance (B) and conductance (G) tympanograms were recorded from 28 normal-hearing adults with a GSI 33 Version 2 Middle-Ear analyzer, and the 3-frequency ipsilateral acoustic-reflex thresholds were measured too. In all subjects, there were normal values of tympanometric indices, such as peak compliances, peak pressures, gradients and ear canal volumes, and of ipsilateral acoustic-reflex thresholds at a 226-Hz probe tone. From 226 to 1000Hz, Y, B and G increased in magnitude while the corresponding admittance-,susceptance- and conductance-tympanogram peak pressures (PY, PB, PG) shifted towards positive evidently. In comparison with 226 Hz, the 678-Hz static admittance (Y') and static susceptance (B') values were large but had no significant differences as compared with those of 1000 Hz. The relation among Y, B and G, among PY, PB and PG, and between Y' and B' changed as a function of probe frequency from 226 to 1000 Hz. The average reflex thresholds of 25 adults (30 ears) were 83 dB HL at 226-Hz probe frequency, 91 dB at 678 Hz, and 88 dB at 1000 Hz, using a 1000-Hz tonal activator. There were significant differences among the 3 values (all P less than 0.01). The ipsilateral acoustic reflexes from 3 adults (4 ears) were present at 226-and 678-Hz probe tones, but not at 1000 Hz.