Wideband Acoustic Absorbance in Otosclerosis: Does Stapedotomy Restore Normal Tympanic Cavity Function?

 Otosclerosis is characterized by the fixation of the stapes to the oval window, thereby impairing acoustic signal absorbance. A commonly used surgical technique for improving hearing in cases of otosclerosis is stapedotomy. However, it is unclear whether this surgery restores all the physical characteristics of the tympano-ossicular system.

[Objective comparison between perforation and hearing loss].

Introduction: There appears to be no relationship between the size of tympanic perforations and hearing loss. Some studies in the literature have assessed this connection, with conflicting data and without proper methodology, especially concerning the measurement of the size of the perforation, which was performed in a subjective manner.

Objective: To evaluate the size of tympanic perforations and to relate them to hearing loss in four different sound frequencies through the use of an objective method.