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Open Access
CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Semin Hear 2023; 44(01): 065-083
DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1763295
Original Article

Implementation of Wideband Acoustic Immittance in Clinical Practice: Relationships among Audiologic and Otologic Findings

Chris A. Sanford
1   Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Idaho State University, Pocatello, Idaho
,
Jeff E. Brockett
1   Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Idaho State University, Pocatello, Idaho
,
Venkatesh Aithal
2   Audiology Department, Townsville University Hospital and Hearing Research Unit for Children, University of Queensland, Queensland, Australia
,
Hammam AlMakadma
3   Department of Otolaryngology and Communicative Disorders, School of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky
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Abstract

A number of studies have produced normative and developmental data and examples of wideband acoustic immittance (WAI) obtained in ears with pathologies and or dysfunction. However, incorporation of this tool into clinical audiology and otolaryngology practice has been slower than expected, potentially due to challenges with interpretation, integration into existing test batteries, and confidence in practical application. This article presents information aimed at helping clinicians increase their confidence in using this new tool by becoming more familiar and making connections with the ways that WAI outcomes both align with and add to standard immittance, audiometric and otologic diagnostic test outcomes. This article presents several case studies to demonstrate the use of WAI in realistic clinical settings. Each case presents a brief background, case history, audiologic/otologic findings, and initial recommendations, followed by a discussion on how the inclusion of WAI test outcomes aids in diagnostic decisions. The overall aim of this work is to identify the relationships among different diagnostic test outcomes, to demonstrate basic WAI interpretation principles, and encourage the reader to engage with this diagnostic tool in clinical practice.

Keywords

wideband acoustic immittance - absorbance - tympanometry - middle ear disorders - audiology - otolaryngology


Publication History

Article published online:
02 March 2023

© 2023. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

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