Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2017 Jan 5;46(1):2.
doi: 10.1186/s40463-016-0182-y.

Audiometric findings with voluntary tensor tympani contraction

Brandon Wickens  1 , Duncan Floyd  2 , Manohar Bance  3
Affiliations

Audiometric findings with voluntary tensor tympani contraction

Brandon Wickens et al. J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. .

Abstract

Background: Tensor tympani contraction may have a "signature" audiogram. This study demonstrates audiometric findings during voluntary tensor tympani contraction.

Methods: Five volunteers possessing the ability to voluntarily contract their tensor tympani muscles were identified and enrolled. Tensor tympani contraction was confirmed with characteristic tympanometry findings. Study subjects underwent conventional audiometry. Air conduction and bone conduction threshold testing was performed with and without voluntary tensor tympani contraction.

Main outcome measure: Changes in air conduction and bone conduction thresholds during voluntary tensor tympani contraction.

Results: Audiometric results demonstrate a low frequency mixed hearing loss resulting from tensor tympani contraction. Specifically, at 250 Hz, air conduction thresholds increased by 22 dB and bone conduction thresholds increased by 10 dB.

Conclusions: Previous research has demonstrated a low frequency conductive hearing loss in the setting of tensor tympanic contraction. This is the first study to demonstrate a low frequency mixed hearing loss associated with tensor tympani contraction. This finding may aid in the diagnosis of disorders resulting from abnormal tensor tympani function. Tensor tympani contraction should be included on the differential for low frequency mixed hearing loss.

Keywords: Audiology; Audiometry; Middle ear; Tensor tympani.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Modified reflex decay test findings used to identify voluntary TT contraction in the test subjects. Here, inversion of the waveform occurs when negative pressure is applied to the external canal during TT contraction
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Thresholds in 1 subject at 250 Hz prior to, during, and after tensor tympanic contraction, demonstrating the reversible nature of the mixed hearing loss seen in these subjects capable of voluntary tensor tympani contraction
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Change in bone conduction thresholds
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Change in air conduction thresholds
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Average change in thresholds
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Salomon G, Starr A. Electromyography of middle ear muscles in man during motor activities. Acta Neurol Scan. 1963;39(2):161–8. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0404.1963.tb05317.x. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Mukerji S, Windsor A, Lee D. Auditory brainstem circuits that mediate the middle ear muscle reflex. Trends Amplif. 2010;14(3):170–91. doi: 10.1177/1084713810381771. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Gioacchini FM, Genovese E, Monzani D, Presutti L, Alicandri-Clufelli M. Tensor tympani muscle: a (voluntary) impedence modulator in mammals? Otolarngol. 2014;4(2):1–3.
    1. Cohen D, Perez R. Bilateral myoclonus of the tensor tympani: a case report. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2003;128(3):441. doi: 10.1067/mhn.2003.6. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Ramirez LM, Ballesteros LE, Sandoval GP. Tensor tympani muscle: strange chewing muscle. Med Oral Patol Oral Circ Bucal. 2007;12:E96–100. - PubMed

MeSH terms

LinkOut - more resources