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Activation of middle-ear muscles by transcranial magnetic stimulation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 December 2007

F G Fiorino ,
L Bertolasi  and
F Barbieri
F G Fiorino*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, ‘Borgo Trento’ Civil Hospital, Verona, Italy
L Bertolasi
Affiliation:
Department of Neurology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
F Barbieri
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, ‘Borgo Trento’ Civil Hospital, Verona, Italy
*
Address for correspondence: Dr Francesco Fiorino, Unità Operativa di Otorinolaringoiatria, Ospedale Civile Maggiore, Piazzale Stefani, I-37126 Verona, Italy. Fax: +39 0458122070 E-mail: franco.fiorino@virgilio.it
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Abstract

Objectives:

To evaluate the reliability of transcranial magnetic stimulation in eliciting admittance changes due to activation of middle-ear muscles.

Methods:

Admittance changes induced by transcranial magnetic stimulation at the inion were evaluated in eight normal subjects, two subjects with prelingual deafness and 22 patients suffering from other otological disorders characterised by absence of acoustic reflex.

Results:

Responses showed a predominant negative peak in normal ears. Two small positive components, one preceding and the other following the negative deflection, were less consistently elicited. Only a positive wave was detected in otosclerotic subjects. Patients with tympanic membrane perforation or previous tympanoplasty with ossicular discontinuity did not show any response.

Conclusions:

Transcranial magnetic stimulation is able to activate both stapedius and tensor tympani muscles. In conjunction with admittance audiometry, it may represent a method of exploring the mechanics of the middle ear when acoustic reflex testing is not reliable. It can be helpful in the confirmation of stapes fixation when a severe to profound hearing loss is present.

Keywords

Acoustic Impedance TestsStapediusTensor TympaniTranscranial Magnetic Stimulation
Type
Main Article
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 122 , Issue 8 , August 2008 , pp. 767 - 772
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2007

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