Immittance Audiometry
Pronunciation: ih-MIT-ants
An umbrella term for objective middle-ear assessment procedures—principally tympanometry and acoustic reflex testing—that measure the transfer of sound energy through the middle ear.
Full Definition
Immittance audiometry encompasses both impedance (resistance to energy flow) and admittance (ease of energy flow) measurements of the middle-ear system; 'immittance' is a portmanteau coined to cover both concepts. In practice, the term refers to the suite of tests performed by an immittance audiometer: tympanometry, static acoustic admittance, acoustic reflex thresholds, and acoustic reflex decay. Editors should note that 'immittance' is the technically correct umbrella term, while 'impedance audiometry' is an older, partially inaccurate label that should be flagged. Reports typically present immittance findings as a structured table with separate rows for tympanogram type, peak pressure, static admittance, and reflex thresholds.
Usage
Usage note: Do not use 'impedance audiometry' as a synonym in modern documents; it is technically inaccurate and outdated. 'Immittance' should not be hyphenated.
In Context
- "Immittance audiometry revealed a Type B tympanogram with absent ipsilateral reflexes bilaterally." — Audiological evaluation report
- "The editor corrected 'impedance audiometry' to 'immittance audiometry' in line with current ASHA terminology." — Editorial correction log