Evaluation of the middle ear functions in wind instruments performers

AIM: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the state of the middle ear and the Eustachian tube functions according to normal individuals, and to be able to examine the effect of wind instrument on the resonant frequency of the middle ear. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was carried out on 28 volunteers (56 ears) of wind instruments performers from Çukurova State Symphony Orchestra as a study group and 34 volunteers (68 ears) as a control group. Pure tone audiometry of the participants' were obtained and conversation (0.5, 1, 2 kHz) and high frequency (4,6,8 kHz) pure tone mean thresholds were noted. Tympanometric peak pressure (TPP) in 226 Hz low probe tone immitansmeter, tympanometric gradient, static compliance, acoustical reflex, and patency of the eustachian tube were examined in both groups. Multifrequency tympanometry was performed on all participants to obtain resonance frequency (RF) values. The RF values of the study group before and after performance were also recorded. RESULTS: High frequency (4,6,8 kHz) pure tone mean thresholds were observed as statistically high in the study group. Absence of acoustic reflex was observed more frequently in the study group and was found to be statistically significant (p = 0.005). There was a statistically significant difference in the TPP and TG median values in the study group (p = 0.000, p = 0.031). When all the ears were evaluated in both groups in terms of patentability of the Eustachian tube, there was a statistically significant difference in the study group (p = 0.048). In the artists who played the wooden wind instrument, the Eustachian tube dysfunction was seen significantly more compared to the copper blow artist and control group (p = 0.029). In the study group, pre-performance RF mean value of all ears was 925 (SD ± 237.6); post-performance RF was 1020 (SD ± 249.6). A significant difference was found between RF mean values obtained before and after performance (p = 0.004). This difference was found to be more evident in the wooden wind instrument performers. When the study and control groups were compared in terms of RF values; the right RF value was 998,92 Hz (SD±254,05) and left RF value was 1041,07 Hz (SD±247,97) in the working group; right RF value was 906,42 Hz (SD±175,10), and left RF value was 863,21 Hz (SD±139,28) in the control group. There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups in the left ear (p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this study features the first study to examine the middle ear functions of artists playing orchestral wind instruments. The middle ear functions were evaluated in the artists playing the wind instruments and a more prominent Eustachian tube dysfunction were observed. The frequency of the resonance was also found to be higher than that of the control group and before the performance in the study group. Some protective measures should be developed for artists who play the wood blown instruments in which this difference was found to be much more evident. This study is a preliminary study, and a more comprehensive study should be performed in wider patient series with qualitative components of multifrequency tympanometry and a highly valid Eustachian tube function test such as sonotubometry.