Audiometric Parameters in Conductive Hearing Loss and Middle Ear Disease

We study audiometric parameters including Transient Otoacoustic emissions, pure-tone audiometry for air- and bone-conduction, and spondaic speech recognition thresholds for air- and bone conduction in a pre- and postoperative situation in patients due for surgery for tympanic membrane perforations and otosclerosis. The hypotheses are that the precision of the preoperative assessment may be increased, and our knowledge about the effect on the inner ear by middle ear surgery may be increased.

Inclusion Criteria: * Tympanic membrane perforation without chronic secretion or cholesteatoma * Suspected otosclerosis Exclusion Criteria: * Below 12 years of age * Patient not consenting to study * Perioperative findings suggesting chronic otitis or cholesteatoma * Patients not fluent in Norwegian or unable to cooperate in audiometry