Age-Adjusted Analysis of Middle Ear Resonance Frequency Characteristics in Individuals with Temporomandibular Disorders

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate middle ear resonance frequency characteristics in individuals with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) using wideband tympanometry, with particular emphasis on age-adjusted analysis.

Materials and Methods: A total of 40 participants were included, comprising 24 patients diagnosed with unilateral, chronic TMD and 16 healthy controls. All participants underwent comprehensive audiological assessment, including pure-tone audiometry, acoustic immittance, and wideband tympanometry. Middle ear resonance frequency outcomes were first compared using unadjusted analyses. Due to a significant age difference between groups, age-adjusted analyses were subsequently performed using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA).

Results: Unadjusted analyses suggested higher ipsilateral middle ear resonance frequency values in the TMD group compared with controls. However, after adjustment for age using ANCOVA, no statistically significant group differences were observed for the averaged resonance frequency outcomes.

Conclusion: Although unadjusted analyses suggested higher ipsilateral resonance frequency values in individuals with TMD, age-adjusted analyses demonstrated that these differences were not statistically significant, indicating that age may play an important role in the observed findings.