Threshold inaccuracies in an elderly clinical population: ear canal collapse as a possible cause.

In a sample of 80 persons in the 60-79-year age range, threshold shifts suggestive of collapsible ear canals were found in over one third of the subjects. A very conservative interpretation of the data suggests that at least 10-16% of these 60-79-year old elderly subjects have collapsible ear canals. Neither sex nor age was related significantly to prevalence. Results of this study indicate that in testing elderly persons there are threshold inaccuracies, relating possibly to collapsible ear canals, which, if not taken into account, may cause unacceptably large errors in both clinical and research applications.