Conductive Hearing Loss with Age—A Histologic and Audiometric Evaluation

A retrospective analysis to quantify age-related changes of the incudo-malleolar joint (IMJ) and incudo-stapedial (ISJ), analyse in air-bone gap (ABG) with age, was performed. Defined histologic parameters 153 IMJ 106 ISJ from subjects aged birth 70 years were correlated age. Additionally, audiograms 1760 ears 974 other 20 80 retrospectively analysed ABG The space (age group 0 10 compared 61 years) became significantly wider age (IMJ: a mean 44 µm 100 µm, p < 0.001; ISJ: 28 69 0.009. thickness cartilage incus decreased first life (IMJ, 88 65 0.01; 35 0.01). ABGs younger (20–40 larger at 500 Hz older (60–80 by 2–4 dB, while it smaller 3–5 dB 4000 (p 0.0017). Interindividual variations all groups large for both analyses. increased spaces could potentially reduce stiffness joints explain increase drop Hz. While average change is small minimal clinical relevance, seen some subjects.