Sound energy absorbance changes in the elderly with presbycusis with normal outer and middle ear.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the wideband tympanometry (WBT) findings in the elderly with presbycusis who have normal outer and middle ears according to otoscopic examination and traditional tympanometry, and to determine whether there is a relationship between the middle ear wideband absorbance value and the pure tone air-bone gap (ABG) observed especially at mid-high frequencies in the elderly.

Methods: The study included 30 elderly with presbycusis (> 65 years old, presbycusis group) and 30 healthy individuals (control group) between the ages of 18 and 55. Pure tone air conduction and bone conduction thresholds of all participants were determined and WBT was applied to all participants. Resonance frequency (RF), absorbance ratios at peak pressure (PPAR) and ambient pressure (APAR) values were analyzed.

Results: The RF value of the presbycusis group was lower than the control group (p < 0.05). APAR and PPAR values at 2000 and 4000 Hz and mean absorbance values of the presbycusis group were lower than the control group (p < 0.05). APAR was higher at 500 Hz in males than females (p < 0.05), but there was no difference between genders in RFs (p > 0.05). A moderate negative correlation was observed between ABG and both PPAR and APAR at 4000 Hz in presbycusis group (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: it was determined that there was a decrease in RF and absorbances at 2000 and 4000 Hz in the elderly with presbycusis. Aging affects not only the inner ear but also the conduction mechanism of the middle ear. Our findings may be effective in a more accurate and reliable interpretation of WBT in the elderly with presbycusis.