2.Finite Element Model Analysis of Hearing Loss Caused by Tympanic Membrane Perforation
Jiaye DING ; Keguang CHEN ; Houguang LIU ; Xinsheng HUANG ; Lei ZHOU
Journal of Audiology and Speech Pathology 2024;32(3):258-264
Objective To investigate the mechanism of hearing loss caused by tympanic membrane(TM)per-foration.Methods We constructed a full ear finite element model,and the personalized finite element model of TM perforation was constructed to simulate hearing loss caused by TM perforation.The difference between the displace-ment response of the basement membrane and the baseline was applied to simulate hearing loss,and the contribution of various components of the middle ear to hearing loss was analyzed to study the mechanism of hearing loss caused by TM perforation.Results If the coupling of the round window membrane and the middle ear air was removed,the hearing loss at the low frequency was about 40 dB,while the high-frequency was the same as the baseline.Re-moval of the coupling between the inner side of the eardrum and the middle ear cavity resulted in a reduction in par-tial low-frequency hearing and an increase in high-frequency hearing loss.The continuous disconnection between the air in the external auditory canal and the air in the middle ear cavity increased the low-frequency hearing loss.How-ever,after the removal of the coupling between the round window membrane and the middle ear air and the connec-tion between the middle ear air and the lateral side of the TM,the original hearing loss of 40 dB at low-frequency dropped to 10 dB.While the removal of the coupling between the middle ear cavity air and the ossicular chain had no significant impact on hearing loss.Conclusion TM perforation may cause hearing loss by both the reduction of sound transmission and the reduction of sound pressure difference between the two sides of TM.The round window membrane can counteract the influence of the hearing loss caused by TM perforation.