Studies in Impedance Audiometry: II. Children Less Than 6 Years Old

Abstract

Results of impedance audiometry were analyzed in 398 consecutive children less than 6 years of age seen for routine audiologic evaluation. Ages ranged from 3 to 71 months. Complete impedance results were obtained from 308 children (77%) during the initial audiologic evaluation. In contrast, only 219 children (55%) yielded satisfactory audiograms on the first visit. Impedance results offered supplementary information not available from conventional behavioral audiometric findings in approximately 67% of children. In general, maximum compliance values were the least useful of the three impedance measures in providing auxiliary diagnostic information. In a subgroup of 82 children with presumably normal middle ear function, stapedius reflex threshold hearing levels changed as a function of age.