Voluntary increase of acoustic middle ear impedances with simultaneous sound attenuation associated with mild hyperacusis (VIMH).

Kompis, Martin; Hohl, Anja; Seifert, Eberhard; Blaser, Daniela; Wimmer, Wilhelm; Caversaccio, Marco (2019). Voluntary increase of acoustic middle ear impedances with simultaneous sound attenuation associated with mild hyperacusis (VIMH). Acta oto-laryngologica, 139(4), pp. 373-378. Taylor & Francis 10.1080/00016489.2018.1563720

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BACKGROUND

Acoustic impedances, as measured with tympanometers, change with the pressure in the middle ears, or reflexively as a response to a range of stimuli. A few persons are able to influence their acoustic impedances voluntarily.

AIMS/OBJECTIVES

To describe this phenomenon and its clinical consequences.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Presentation of five case reports with measurements of the acoustic impedances, hearing thresholds, and otoacoustic emissions (TEOAE) in the relaxed state and while the change in acoustic impedance was invoked.

RESULTS

All five subjects were able to voluntarily increase the acoustic impedance of their ears for short periods of time. While the change was active, TEOAE levels decreased by 0.8-9.7 dB and a mild transient conductive hearing loss in the low frequencies occurred. Four out of the five subjects reported a mild hyperacusis when the voluntary change was not invoked and showed unusual features in their acoustically evoked reflex.

CONCLUSIONS AND SIGNIFICANCE

Subjects who can control their acoustic impedances voluntarily seem to have an increased prevalence of mild hyperacusis. Our results suggest interference of the voluntary control with the acoustic stapes reflex as a mechanism and we propose to name this phenomenon 'Voluntary Impedance increase with Mild Hyperacusis', or VIMH.

Item Type:	Journal Article (Original Article)
Division/Institute:	04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of Head Organs and Neurology (DKNS) > Clinic of Ear, Nose and Throat Disorders (ENT) 10 Strategic Research Centers > ARTORG Center for Biomedical Engineering Research > ARTORG Center - Hearing Research Laboratory 04 Faculty of Medicine > Service Sector > Institute of Pathology
UniBE Contributor:	Kompis, Martin, Hohl, Anja, Seifert, Eberhard, Blaser, Daniela, Wimmer, Wilhelm, Caversaccio, Marco
Subjects:	600 Technology > 610 Medicine & health 500 Science > 570 Life sciences; biology
ISSN:	0001-6489
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Language:	English
Submitter:	Stefan Weder
Date Deposited:	22 Jan 2020 13:47
Last Modified:	05 Dec 2022 15:35
Publisher DOI:	10.1080/00016489.2018.1563720
PubMed ID:	30806127
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Stapedius compliance conductive hearing loss hyperacusis middle ear stapedius reflex voluntary control
URI:	https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/137967