Term

What are the goals of acoustic reflex testing?

Definition

Objectively assess the middle ear muscle reflex (MEMR) pathway -can provide cross-check for audiogram when patient reliability is questionable -can be used to evaluate central pathology (e.g. VIII n. tumor, VIII n. paralysis)

Term

How activiation of the MEMR pathway causes a change in tympanic membrane/middle ear admittance

Definition

MEMR Pathway • Involves outer ear > middle ear > inner ear > auditory brainstem > facial nerve > stapedius muscle • Is bilateral Acoustic Reflex Threshold Testing • Assesses integrity of MEMR pathway by measuring admittance during activation of the MEMR The lowest level of an elicitor required to initiate the MEMR is called the “acoustic reflex threshold”

Term

The branches of the MEMR pathway and the conditions that we use to test them. What information is gained by testing all four branches?

Definition

Because the MEMR pathway is bilateral, four “branches” of the pathway can be tested: • When 226 Hz probe tone and MEMR elicitor are in the same ear, we call it “ipsilateral” acoustic reflex • When 226 Hz probe tone and MEMR elicitor are in opposite ears, we call it “contralateral”