The Impacts of Cochlear Implantation on Wideband Tympanometry: A Systematic Review Publisher



Sharifi A ; Kouhi A ; Brodsky JR ; Samadizadeh S ; Ghaedsharaf S ; Farasat E
Source: Indian Journal of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery Published:2026

Abstract

To investigate the impacts of cochlear implantation on wideband tympanometry parameters in comparison to non-implanted ears in implanted patients and to normal hearing ears. PubMed, Medline, Scopus, Cochrane Central Register of Control Trials, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and Embase were systematically searched up to February 2025. The search strategy was structured by a combination of relevant keywords and medical subheadings (MeSH). Eligible English language studies were included, and their quality was assessed. This review was carried out according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and Population, Intervention, Comparison, and Outcome (PICO) statement. A total of 8 studies, including 459 ears, met the inclusion criteria. In implanted ears, post-op absorbance was significantly lower than pre-op at low, middle, and high frequencies (P < 0.05). Implanted ears had significantly lower absorbance than non-implanted ears in impanted patients (P < 0.05). Moreover, implanted ears had significantly lower absorbance than normal hearing ears at low frequencies (≤ 1000 Hz) (P < 0.05). Implanted ears had significantly higher absorbance than normal hearing ears at two middle frequencies (1600 and 2000 Hz) (P < 0.05). However, there were no significant differences between two groups at high frequencies (P > 0.05). This systematic review demonstrated that cochlear implantation results in decreased absorbance on wideband tympanometry at low, middle, high, or all frequencies, which may be due to the presence of electrode arrays in the IE and/or increased stiffness of the middle ear and inner ear after cochlear implantation. © Association of Otolaryngologists of India 2025.