Effects of ethnicity and gender on the middle ear function in Asian adults

Aw Cheu Lih, Mohd Normani Zakaria, Ridwan Afif Mohamad, Mohd Fadzil Nor Rashid

Indian Journal of Otology 2017 23(2):94-97

Introduction: Tympanometry is a standard clinical test to measure the middle ear function objectively. Ethnicity and gender may affect tympanometric results, and specific normative data are required for diagnosing middle ear disorders accurately. Aim: This study aimed to determine the effects of ethnicity (Malay vs. Chinese) and gender on tympanometric results among Asian adults. Materials and Methods: A total of 72 young adults aged 20–25 years participated in this comparative study. They comprised two ethnic groups: Malay (n = 31 [14 males and 17 females]) and Chinese (n = 41 [20 males and 21 females]) participants. All participants fulfilled the inclusion criteria (no history of ear and hearing difficulties and normal findings in routine audiological assessments) and underwent a standard 226 Hz tympanometric testing. Tympanometric parameters including static admittance (SA), ear canal volume (ECV), tympanometric peak pressure (TPP), and tympanometric width (TW) were recorded from each participant. Results: No significant differences in all tympanometric parameters were found between Chinese and Malay participants (P > 0.05). However, statistically higher SA and ECV values were noted in males than in females (P < 0.05). No gender effect was observed in TPP and TW (P > 0.05). Conclusions: For a more accurate middle ear evaluation in Malay and Chinese young adults, gender-specific tympanometric normative data derived from this study are recommended.

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