Hearing loss and visco-elasticity of middle ear fluid.

It has been suggested that the physical properties of middle ear effusion--its viscosity and elasticity--affect the degree of conductive impairment. Exogenous mucus having substantial visco-elasticity was instilled in the bullae of guinea pigs, and the resulting hearing loss was determined by measurements of the cochlear microphonic potential. In this preparation the hearing loss induced by mucus did not differ significantly from that found when the bulla was filled with saline. We find no evidence of a relationship between visco-elasticity of middle ear fluid and amount of conductive impairment.