HINT list equivalency using older listeners.

HINT list equivalency was examined using 24 listeners between 60 and 70 years old who had sensorineural hearing impairment. A Greco-Latin square design was used to ensure that each list was presented an equal number of times per condition. Four conditions were tested: (1) speech in quiet, (2) speech in 65 dBA noise with noise at 0 degrees azimuth, (3) speech in 65 dBA noise with noise at 90 degrees azimuth, and (4) speech in 65 dBA noise with noise at 270 degrees azimuth. Speech materials were always presented at 0 degrees azimuth. Overall mean scores ranged from 29.9 dBA for the quiet condition to 63.4 dBA for the noise at 0 degrees azimuth condition. A significant difference was found between Lists 13 and 16 only. This was attributed to audibility differences among the listeners. Therefore, the 25 HINT lists should be considered equivalent for older populations with similar hearing impairment. The HINT lists can be used for relative measures, such as comparison of aided versus unaided sentence SRTs or comparison of 2 different hearing aids.

Multifrequency tympanometry: effects of ear canal volume compensation on middle ear resonance.

Sweep frequency tympanograms compensating for ear canal volume at 200 and -400 daPa were obtained on 106 ears of 53 subjects during four different sessions. Resonance frequencies were obtained and analyzed to determine normative data, resonance differences between the compensation methods, and the interaction effect of running consecutive tympanograms. There were no gender or interaural differences for either compensation method. Although statistically significant, the compensation method by order interaction found between the first and second runs of tympanograms was not clinically significant. Compensation at 200 daPa was recommended when using sweep frequency tympanometry. Mean resonance frequency difference of the two compensation methods was 400 Hz. Large intersubject variability emphasized the need for audiologists to use proper compensation norms when examining middle ear resonance.

Middle ear resonance and acoustic immittance measures in children.

This study established a normal middle ear resonance estimated from sweep frequency tympanometry (250-2000 Hz) and established normal equivalent ear canal volume, static acoustic admittance, and tympanometric peak pressure at 226 Hz in children with normal hearing (N = 90) and in children with severe to profound sensorineural impairments (N = 68). Children's ages ranged from 6 to 15 years. No statistically significant differences between the groups or across ages were found. Means, standard deviations, and 90% ranges (5-95%) for these four tympanometric measures are presented and compared to other studies.

Cost Justifications for Multifrequency Tympanometry.

MFT has the potential to become the standard of care when dealing with possible middle ear pathologies. By applying those applications appropriate to the individual practice, and with a reasonable marketing effort, the cost of MFT-capable equipment should be readily recoverable.Finally, and most importantly, MFT is being shown in the current literature to be a better diagnostic tool than traditional tympanometry and to improve the level of care being provided to many clients by the audiologist and the physician. In my mind, this alone justifies the expenditure.