Acoustic reflectance measurements in otosclerosis: case study

This research aimed to analyze the reflectance measurements in a patient with otosclerosis. The patient, female, 51 years old; she complained of bilateral hearing loss and had a diagnosis hypothesis of otosclerosis. The following audiological tests were performed in both ears: tympanometry, pure-tone audiometry, and speech audiometry tests and acoustic reflectance measurements. Through acoustic wideband reflectance analysis, it was possible to observe an increase in reflectance, such as is seen in otosclerotic ears, between the frequencies of 500 Hz and 1500 Hz and to differentiate the left and right ear. Acoustic reflectance measurements have the potential to yield results that allow the differentiation between the two ears; thus, the use of the wideband acoustic reflectance is suggested as a part of the otosclerosis diagnostic procedure.

Otosclerosis; Ear; middle; Acoustic impedance tests; Hearing loss; Hearing tests