JAAA CEU Program

Questions refer to Aithal et al, “Eustachian Tube Dysfunction and Wideband Absorbance Measurements at Tympanometric Peak Pressure and 0 daPa,” 781–791.

Learner Outcomes:

Readers of this article should be able to:

• Understand the pattern of wideband absorbance (WBA) at ambient pressure (WBA₀) and at tympanometric peak pressure (WBA_TPP) in ears with negative middle ear pressure.

• Consider application of WBA technology during assessment of eustachian tube function in children.

CEU Questions:

1. A single measurement of normal resting middle ear pressure (MEP):

   • is always indicative of normal eustachian tube function.

   • can describe the effects of altered MEP on sound transmission through the middle ear.

   • does not provide indication of pressure regulation function of the eustachian tube.

2. The limitation of Toynbee and Valsalva tests is:

   • They do not provide serial determination of middle ear pressure.

   • It is not possible to control relative amounts of overpressure or underpressure generated.

   • They do not indicate the dynamics of the tubal function.

3. Compensated negative middle ear pressure is:

   • Negative ear canal pressure equal to the positive shift in the middle ear pressure.

   • Positive ear canal pressure equal to the negative shift in the middle ear pressure.

   • Negative ear canal pressure equal to the negative shift in the middle ear pressure.

4. WBA₀ of the eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD) group demonstrated a peak in the frequencies between:

   • 2.5 and 4 kHz

   • 0.8 and 1.5 kHz

   • 0.25 and 2 kHz

5. WBA_TPP of both control and ETD groups was highest between:

   • 0.25 and 1 kHz

   • 1 and 4 kHz

   • 3 and 8 kHz

6. In all the three ETD groups, the difference between WBA_TPP and WBA₀ was largest between:

   • 0.25 and 1.25 kHz

   • 1 and 4 kHz

   • 4 and 8 kHz

7. The frequency region that is optimal for detecting negative middle ear pressure (NMEP) is:

   • 1 to 4 kHz

   • 2 to 4 kHz

   • 0.8 to 2 kHz

8. If the ear canal pressure differs from the MEP, sound transmission is reduced in the:

   • low frequencies.

   • mid frequencies.

   • high frequencies.

9. In ears with otitis media with effusion and NMEP, WBA_TPP

   • was restored to near normal values.

   • remained significantly low in the low to mid frequencies.

   • was better than WBA_TPP in the ETD group.

10. During evaluation of ETD,

    • measuring WBA₀ alone is adequate.

    • measuring WBA_TPP alone is adequate.

    • measuring and comparing both WBA₀ and WBA_TPP should be done.

No conflict of interest has been declared by the author(s).