Test-Retest Reliability of Wide Band Tympanometry in Children and Adults With and Without Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Abstract

This study investigated the test-retest reliability of wideband tympanometry (WBT) in children and adults with and without sensorineural hearing loss. Forty participants were divided into four groups based on age and hearing status. WBT measurements were done on four different time points with at least a one-day inter-session interval. The results revealed no significant difference in absorbance between sessions at peak and ambient pressure in children and adults with and without sensorineural hearing loss. Further, fair-to-good to excellent internal consistency and test-retest reliability was found in all four groups. These results support its reliability and thereby its potential in monitoring middle ear changes during and after a treatment. Therefore, WBT can be a valuable tool in clinical practice for both children and adults, offering reliable insights into middle ear function in normal and clinical population having sensorineural hearing loss.