The comparaison of multi-frequency tympanometry results in normal and otosclerotic middle ears

Tympanometry is a non-invasive, quick and cheap method forexamining the middle ear function. Its limited value in differentiatingotosclerotic from normal middle ears, caused researchers to develop newmethods for evaluation of middle ears. Resonance frequency had beenfound to be higher in otosclerotic middle ears than normal middle ears.We conducted multiple-frequency tympanometry measures to 25surgically shown to be otosclerotic ears and 100 normal ears. Weevaluated our results: Mean middle ear resonance frequency forotosclerotic group was 1190 Hz and mean middle ear resonancefrequency of control group found 934,6 Hz (p<0,001). With a confidenceinterval of %95, the minimum of resonance frequency was 950 Hz andmaximum was 1021 Hz. Middle ear resonance frequency of lower than1021 Hz are accepted as normal and above 1021 Hz are accepted asotosclerosis. When 1021 Hz is accepted as cut-off point, sensitivity isfound to be %80 and spesificity is found to be %82. As a conclusion,detecting resonance frequency when evaluating patients for otosclerosismust be an essential part of examination but further investgation isnecessary for better diagnosis of otosclerosis preoperatively.