[Examinations of the thresholds of discomfort of the ears treated by stapedectomy (author's transl)].

Ears treated by stapedectomy often are extremely irritated by noise. To clear up this phenomenon were plotted the thresholds of discomfort by tone- and speechaudiograms in the operated ears as well as in the non-operated. All our patients being examined had the stapedius muscle tendons cut. There was no clinical otosclerosis in the non-operated ears and the audition was the same on either side. A significant increase of the discomfort threshold was seen in the operated ears (93.8% in the toneaudiograms and 78.1% in the speech audiograms). In the tone audiograms the frequencies of 500, 1000 and 2000 cps were the most concerned. We consider this increase of discomfort as a consecutive result of the stapedius tendon cutting. It verifies the protecting function of the stapedius muscle against low frequencies.