Wideband reflectance in Down syndrome.

Objective: Children with Down syndrome (DS) have a high incidence of middle ear disorders and congenital abnormalities of the external, middle and inner ear. Energy reflectance (ER), a wideband acoustic immittance (WAI) measurement parameter, can measure the sound energy reflected or absorbed in the ear canal over a wider range of frequencies more efficiently and faster than conventional single-tone 226 Hz tympanometry. The aim of the present study was to compare the WAI measurements of children with DS with those of typically developing, normal-hearing children according to their tympanometric findings.

Wideband reflectance in newborns with present transient-evoked otoacoustic emissions.

Purpose: To characterize the normal values of acoustic energy reflectance obtained with pure-tone stimulation in neonates prior to hospital discharge.

Methods: Seventy-seven infants (37 girls and 40 boys) were evaluated by measuring acoustic reflectance using pure-tone stimuli, transient-evoked otoacoustic emissions, and tympanometric probe frequencies of 226 Hz and 1 kHz.

Results: At low frequencies (258-750 Hz), greater energy reflectance was observed, while at medium frequencies (1-3 kHz), greater energy absorption was observed.