Air conduction thresholds after myringoplasty and stapes surgery: a conventional and high frequency audiometric comparison.

A comparison has been made of air conduction thresholds after myringoplasty and stapes surgery for otosclerosis in both the conventional (0.25 to 8 kHz) and high frequency (8 to 20 kHz) ranges. Significant threshold losses occurred in the high frequencies following both procedures. Threshold improvement was significantly greater at the lower frequencies following stapes surgery, while high frequency threshold deterioration was significantly less in the myringoplasty group. High frequency audiometry may prove to be a sensitive monitor of middle ear surgical techniques.