Immittance
Immittance[edit | edit source]
Immittance is a term used in audiology and otology to describe the ease or difficulty with which energy flows through the middle ear. It is a combination of the terms "impedance" and "admittance," which are used to describe the opposition to energy flow and the ease of energy flow, respectively. Immittance measurements are crucial in diagnosing middle ear disorders and assessing hearing loss.
Components of Immittance[edit | edit source]
Immittance is composed of two main components:
Impedance[edit | edit source]
Impedance is the opposition that a system presents to the flow of acoustic energy. It is measured in ohms and is influenced by the mass, stiffness, and resistance of the middle ear structures. Impedance is a critical factor in determining how sound is transmitted through the ear.
Admittance[edit | edit source]
Admittance is the measure of how easily energy flows through a system. It is the reciprocal of impedance and is measured in siemens. Admittance provides information about the compliance and conductance of the middle ear.
Measurement of Immittance[edit | edit source]
Immittance is typically measured using a device called a tympanometer. This device assesses the function of the middle ear by varying the air pressure in the ear canal and measuring the reflected sound energy. The key measurements obtained from tympanometry include:
Tympanometry[edit | edit source]
Tympanometry is a test that evaluates the movement of the tympanic membrane in response to changes in air pressure. It provides a tympanogram, which is a graph that shows the compliance of the middle ear as a function of air pressure. Tympanometry helps in identifying conditions such as otitis media, eustachian tube dysfunction, and perforated eardrum.
Acoustic Reflex Testing[edit | edit source]
Acoustic reflex testing measures the contraction of the stapedius muscle in response to loud sounds. This reflex helps protect the inner ear from damage due to loud noises. The presence or absence of the acoustic reflex can provide information about the integrity of the auditory pathway.
Clinical Applications[edit | edit source]
Immittance testing is used in various clinical settings to:
- Diagnose middle ear effusion and otitis media.
- Evaluate eustachian tube function.
- Assess ossicular chain integrity.
- Monitor hearing aid performance.
Related Pages[edit | edit source]
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates, categories Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
