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Wideband acoustic transfer functions predict middle‐ear effusion
Author(s) -
Ellison John C.,
Gorga Michael,
Cohn Edward,
Fitzpatrick Denis,
Sanford Chris A.,
Keefe Douglas H.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
the laryngoscope
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1531-4995
pISSN - 0023-852X
DOI - 10.1002/lary.23182
Subject(s) - absorbance , eardrum , medicine , middle ear , audiology , effusion , surgery , chemistry , chromatography , radiology
Objectives/Hypothesis: Compare the accuracy of wideband acoustic transfer functions (WATFs) measured in the ear canal at ambient pressure to methods currently recommended by clinical guidelines for predicting middle‐ear effusion (MEE). Study Design: Cross‐sectional validating diagnostic study among young children with and without MEE to investigate the ability of WATFs to predict MEE. Methods: WATF measures were obtained in an MEE group of 44 children (53 ears; median age, 1.3 years) scheduled for middle‐ear ventilation tube placement and a normal age‐matched control group of 44 children (59 ears; median age, 1.2 years) with normal pneumatic otoscopic findings and no history of ear disease or middle‐ear surgery. An otolaryngologist judged whether MEE was present or absent and rated tympanic‐membrane (TM) mobility via pneumatic otoscopy. A likelihood‐ratio classifier reduced WATF data (absorbance, admittance magnitude and phase) from 0.25 to 8 kHz to a single predictor of MEE status. Absorbance was compared to pneumatic otoscopy classifications of TM mobility. Results: Absorbance was reduced in ears with MEE compared to ears from the control group. Absorbance and admittance magnitude were the best single WATF predictors of MEE, but a predictor combining absorbance, admittance magnitude, and phase was the most accurate. Absorbance varied systematically with TM mobility based on data from pneumatic otoscopy. Conclusions: Results showed that absorbance is sensitive to middle‐ear stiffness and MEE, and WATF predictions of MEE in young children are as accurate as those reported for methods recommended by the clinical guidelines. Laryngoscope, 2012