Br. Valvik et al., MULTIFREQUENCY TYMPANOMETRY - PRELIMINARY EXPERIENCES WITH A COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE MIDDLE-EAR ANALYZER, Audiology, 33(5), 1994, pp. 245-253
Normal ears and ears affected by various pathologies were studied with
a clinical middle-ear analyzer according to the multifrequency tympan
ometric concept, by which the resonance frequency of the tympanic memb
rane/middle-ear system can be determined. This frequency varies consid
erably in normal ears with a mean value close to 1 kHz. Ears with path
ologies in the tympanic membrane and otosclerotic ears have resonance
frequencies differing significantly from those of normal ears. The eff
ects may be explained by considering mass and stiffness components.