TYMPANOMETRIC NORMATIVE DATA OF MIDDLE EAR IN YOUNG ASIAN ADULTS BASED ON HEIGHT AND HEAD CIRCUMFERENCE.

Mohd Normani ZAKARIA, Ridwan Afif MOHAMAD, Cheu Lih AW

Audiology and Speech Pathology Programme, School of Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, MALAYSIA

ABSTRACT

Objectives: Tympanometry is a useful clinical test to identify middle ear disorders in an objective manner. The aim of the present study was to determine the possible influence of body size variables (height and head circumference) on tympanometric results in healthy adults. Materials and Methods: Sixty young Asian adults (30 males and 30 females) with mean age of 22.1 ± 1.3 years were enrolled. All of them underwent a standard 226 Hz tympanometric assessment for determining their middle ear function. Outcomes of tympanometric parameters including static admittance (SA), ear canal volume (ECV), tympanometric peak pressure (TPP) and tympanometric width (TW) were computed. In addition, height and head circumference were measured from each subject. Results: Females were found to produce significantly lower SA and ECV values than males. Among the tympanometric parameters, only ECV outcomes were influenced by height. Significant influences of head circumference on SA and ECV were found. In contrast, TPP and TW values were not affected either by gender or body size. Conclusion: Tympanometric results can be influenced by height and head circumference. Gender-specific normative data and regression-based normative data derived from the present study can be useful for clinical diagnosis involving the Asian population.

Keywords: Middle ear, Tympanometry, Asian, Gender, Head circumference, Height

Correspondence: Dr. Mohd Normani Zakaria, Audiology and Speech Patology Programme, School of Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, MALAYSIA

Tel: 609-7677691, Fax: 609-7677515

Email: normppsk@hotmail.com

Brunei Int Med J. 2018;14:37-42