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PubMed · 7150069

Middle-ear pressure and eustachian tube function.

H Virtanen·T Marttila
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Abstract

In 92 healthy persons with the common cold, 184 ears were examined and 786 coincidental sonotubometric and tympanometric measurements were taken. There was a good tubal function when the middle-ear pressure was 0 to -25 mm H2O, with 91% of the tubes opening during swallowing. A systematically reduced tubal opening was noted as the middle ear pressure decreased from 0 to -200 mm H2O. The present study discloses that a negative middle-ear pressure evaluated by tympanometry does not always denote a closed tube, nor does a flat tympanogram necessarily indicate a middle-ear effusion. No definite limits could be ascertained for the normal middle-ear pressure; the middle ear is extremely dynamic, and middle-ear pressure can change for many reasons.

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Acoustic Impedance TestsAdultAudiologyCommon ColdEar, MiddleEustachian TubeHumansMiddle AgedPressureReference ValuesComparative StudyJournal Article

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H Virtanen, T Marttila. 1982. Middle-ear pressure and eustachian tube function.. https://doi.org/10.1001/archotol.1982.00790600010003

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