Department of Audiology, All India Institute of Speech and Hearing, Manasagangothri, Mysuru, Karnataka, India.
Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2021 Nov;278(11):4305-4314. doi: 10.1007/s00405-020-06571-x. Epub 2021 Jan 3.
The purpose of the study was to know whether the wideband absorbance measurements can be a useful tool to identify ears with otosclerosis. The present study analyzed WBA measurements and highlighted its effectiveness in identifying ears with otosclerosis and differentiating from healthy normal ears.
The study included 42 ears with otosclerosis which were compared with an equal sample size of healthy normal ears. WBA across frequencies and wideband average absorbance (375-2000 Hz) at the peak and ambient pressure, and resonance frequency were measured and analyzed.
Results showed that WBA levels increased with an increase in frequencies up to 2000 Hz and decreased thereafter, both in the otosclerosis and healthy normal ears. The mean WBA in the otosclerosis group was significantly lower in the 250-2000 Hz frequency range than in the healthy normal ear group. The WBA values at ambient pressure reduced significantly up to 500 Hz for the healthy normal ear group and 1500 Hz for otosclerosis group, compared with peak pressure. Further, the analysis of wideband average absorbance at ambient pressure showed reduced absorbance (0.35) and higher resonance frequency (1350.33 Hz) in the otosclerosis group compared with the healthy normal ear group (0.60 and 930.14 Hz, respectively). ROC analysis indicated that WBA is suitable for identifying otosclerotic ears and also in differentiating from healthy normal ears based on WBA values from 250 to 1500 Hz. High diagnostic values of WBA (> 90% sensitivity and specificity) were observed at a frequency of 1000 Hz.
The inclusion of WBA into clinical routine test procedures could be a useful tool for detecting otosclerosis. Further research is required to validate its clinical use in combination with other middle ear measures.
本研究旨在探讨宽频带声导纳测量（WBA）能否成为一种有用的工具，用于识别耳硬化症患者。本研究分析了 WBA 测量值，并强调了其在识别耳硬化症患者和区分正常耳方面的有效性。
该研究纳入了 42 例耳硬化症患者，并与相同数量的健康正常耳进行了比较。测量并分析了各频率下的 WBA 以及在峰压和环境压力下的宽频带平均吸声率（375-2000 Hz）和共振频率。
结果表明，WBA 水平随频率的增加而增加，在 2000 Hz 达到峰值，之后则降低，在耳硬化症和健康正常耳中均如此。耳硬化症组在 250-2000 Hz 频率范围内的平均 WBA 显著低于健康正常耳组。与峰压相比，健康正常耳组在环境压力下的 WBA 值在 500 Hz 左右显著降低，而耳硬化症组则在 1500 Hz 左右降低。此外，环境压力下宽频带平均吸声率的分析显示，与健康正常耳组相比，耳硬化症组的吸声率（0.35）降低，共振频率（1350.33 Hz）升高（分别为 0.60 和 930.14 Hz）。ROC 分析表明，WBA 适用于识别耳硬化症患者，也适用于根据 250-1500 Hz 之间的 WBA 值来区分正常耳。在 1000 Hz 频率下，WBA 的诊断价值较高（>90%的灵敏度和特异性）。
将 WBA 纳入临床常规测试程序可能是一种有用的工具，可用于检测耳硬化症。需要进一步研究以验证其与其他中耳测量指标联合应用于临床的效果。
