Korean Journal of Audiology (대한청각학회지)

The Korean Audiology Society (대한청각학회)
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Audiogram in Response to Stimulation Delivered to Fluid Applied to the External Meatus

  • Geal-Dor, Miriam (Speech & Hearing Center, Hadassah University Medical Center) ;
  • Chordekar, Shai (Speech & Hearing Center, Hadassah University Medical Center) ;
  • Adelman, Cahtia (Speech & Hearing Center, Hadassah University Medical Center) ;
  • Kaufmann-Yehezkely, Michal (Department of Otorhinolaryngology/Head & Neck Surgery, Hadassah University Medical Center) ;
  • Sohmer, Haim (Department of Medical Neurobiology, Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School)
  • Received : 2019.10.07
  • Accepted : 2019.12.23
  • Published : 2020.04.20
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Abstract

Background and Objectives: Hearing can be elicited in response to vibratory stimuli delivered to fluid in the external auditory meatus. To obtain a complete audiogram in subjects with normal hearing in response to pure tone vibratory stimuli delivered to fluid applied to the external meatus. Subjects and Methods: Pure tone vibratory stimuli in the audiometric range from 0.25 to 6.0 kHz were delivered to fluid applied to the external meatus of eight participants with normal hearing (15 dB or better) using a rod attached to a standard clinical bone vibrator. The fluid thresholds obtained were compared to the air conduction (AC), bone conduction (BC; mastoid), and soft tissue conduction (STC; neck) thresholds in the same subjects. Results: Fluid stimulation thresholds were obtained at every frequency in each subject. The fluid and STC (neck) audiograms sloped down at higher frequencies, while the AC and BC audiograms were flat. It is likely that the fluid stimulation audiograms did not involve AC mechanisms or even, possibly, osseous BC mechanisms. Conclusions: The thresholds elicited in response to the fluid in the meatus likely reflect a form of STC and may result from excitation of the inner ear by the vibrations induced in the fluid. The sloping fluid audiograms may reflect transmission pathways that are less effective at higher frequencies.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

The participation of Miriam Geal-Dor was supported by the Newman Fund for audiological research. We would like to thank the Newman Fund for audiological research (The fund had no involvement in the study design, in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript; and in the decision to submit the manuscript for publication).

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