Tympanometric Norms for Chinese Young Adults

In Brief Objective To obtain tympanometric norms in Southern Chinese young adult population and compare the results with data obtained for a Caucasian population. Design Ear canal volume (Vea), tympanometric compensated static acoustic admittance (Peak Ytm), tympanometric width (TW) and tympanometric peak pressure (TPP) were obtained on 100 Southern Chinese young adults. Results were compared with findings from Roup et al. (1998). Inter-tester reliability was established. Results Compared with the results obtained by Roup et al. (1998) on non-Hispanic Caucasian population, Southern Chinese subjects were found to have lower Peak Ytm, wider TW and more positive TPP values. No gender difference was noted for Peak Ytm, TW and TPP values in Chinese subjects. Inter-tester reliability was good. Conclusion The tympanometric norms obtained in this study are recommended when evaluating middle ear function among Southern Chinese young adults. Tympanometry is a useful tool for the identification of middle ear abnormalities. Currently used clinical norms are neither gender- nor race-specific. However, previous studies have suggested that tympanometric measurements may depend on gender, age, and ethnicity. For example, ASHA-specified norms have resulted in up to 48% of false positives among Chinese children. This study compares tympanometric measurements as a function of both gender and race (“Western” versus “Ethnic Southern Chinese”). Compared with results obtained on a non-Hispanic Caucasian population, Southern Chinese subjects were found to have lower peak compensated static acoustic admittance, wider tympanometric width, and more positive TPP values. No gender difference was noted for any of these parameters in Chinese subjects. The tympanometric norms obtained in this study are recommended when evaluating middle ear function among Southern Chinese young adults.