Sixteen-Year Change in Acoustic-Admittance Measures Among Older Adults: Data From a Population-Based Study

作者：Nondahl David M^*; Cruickshanks Karen J; Wiley Terry L; Tweed Ted S; Dalton Dayna S

来源：Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 2013, 56(6): 1745-1750.

DOI：10.1044/1092-4388(2013/12-0381)

• acoustic-admittance
• aging
• middle ear
• tympanometry
• diagnostics
• physiology

Purpose: The primary purpose of this study was to measure the 16-year change in peak compensated static acoustic admittance (Peak Y-tm) in a population-based cohort of older adults, and to determine whether age was associated with any observed change in Peak Y-tm. Other tympanometric measures also were taken and analyzed.
Method: Data from two examinations (1993-1995 and 2009-2010) of the population-based Epidemiology of Hearing Loss Study (n = 1,439 with data at both examinations, ages 48-84 years at baseline) were utilized to assess 16-year change. Tympanometric measures were taken using a 226-Hz probe tone, a positive-to-negative direction of pressure change, and a measured pump speed of 600/200 daPa/s.
Results: During the 16-year period, Peak Y-tm declined an average of 0.009 mmho/year (0.009/year for women, 0.007/year for men). Among women, older baseline age was associated with greater decline in Peak Y-tm. Among men, baseline age was associated with change in Peak Y-tm, but in a nonlinear pattern. Other tympanometric measures demonstrated little change after 16 years.
Conclusions: These results demonstrate a small degree of middle-ear stiffening after 16 years among these older adults, but not enough to affect function in a manner that would influence clinical decisions.

• 出版日期2013-12