사람의 청각기관은 크게 말초와 중추 청각기관으로 나눌 수 있으며, 말초청각기관은 외이, 중이, 내이로 구성되어 있다. 중 이는 고막, 고실, 이소골, 이내근, 이관 등 다섯 가지의 구조물을 포함하고 있다. 그 중 중이의 시작 부분이며 소리 전달에 중요 한 역할을 하는 고막은 외이도와 고실 사이에 존재하는 얇은 막으로 진동을 통해 소리를 고실 내의 이소골로 전달한다(Ko, 2009). 이러한 고막은 중이 상태에 따라 진동이 달라지므로 그 진동현상을 분석하여 중이의 상태를 확인할 수 있는 역할을 한다.
Purpose: This study was to determine effects of three stimulus frequencies on tympanometry and to compare with Distortion Produtct Otoacoustic Emission (DPOAE) for regular and special school-age children. Methods: A total number of 182 school-age children, 152 recruited from regular elementary school and 30 from special school, participated. All participants were evaluated by tympanogram and DPOAE. Tympanograms were tested by 226, 678, and 1,000 Hz and analyzed with static compliance (SC) and earcanal volume (EV). Results: Depending on three stimulus frequencies, SCs and EVs were 0.49, 1.45, and 1.26 ml and 0.92, 2.98, 4.52 cm3 in regular school-age group and 0.56, 1.58, 1.29 ml and 0.98, 3.0, 4.48 cm3 in special school-age group. There were statistical significant differences among three frequencies but no difference between regular and special school-age groups for both SCs and EVs (p < 0.05). The pass and fail rate of DPOAE was 87.2% and 12.8% for regular school-age group and 57.6% and 42.4% for special school-age group, showing a statistical significant difference between groups (p < 0.05). Agreement rate between tympanograms and DPOAE results was the highest in 678 Hz. Conclusion: While there was no difference in middle ear status between groups, DPOAE results referred that the inner ear status could be poor for the special school-age group. Therefore, more interests of hearing status should be aroused to the special school-age children. Additionally, the 678 Hz seems to be more useful for screening school-age children. Further, more data with pure tone examination be supplemented for the certain conclusion.
INTRODUCTION MATERIALS AND METHODS RESULTS DISCUSSIONS REFERENCES
