Poor appetite and inadequate food intake together with depression are associated with malnutrition, that will increase risk of morbidity and mortality among elderly people. Identifying factors associated with these conditions are essential for formulation of preventive strategies. Therefore, a study was conducted to identify factors associated with poor appetite and depression among institutionalised Chinese elderly people in Butterworth, Penang. A total of 100 Chinese elderly (49 men and 51 women) aged 60 years and above, (mean age ± SD of 74.7 ± 9.2 years), with no known terminal and mental illnesses from two nursing homes participated in this study. Subjects were interviewed to gather information on appetite using Council of Nutrition Appetite Questionnaire (CNAQ), depression using Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) and also socio demographic and health status. Food intake was assessed using a combination of one-day food weighing and 24 hour diet recall. Body weight and height were measured. Results showed that the mean energy and nutrients intake did not achieve the Recommended Nutrient Intake of Malaysia (RNI), with the exception for vitamin C. Only 4% of the subjects were underweight and obese, 65% normal and 31% overweight. A total of 70% and 73% of subjects had poor appetite and depression, respectively. Subjects who had depression (adjusted OR = 2.78, 95% CI = 0.95-8.03), energy intake below RNI (adjusted OR = 2.34, 95% CI = 0.68-6.95) and difficulty to fall asleep at night (insomnia) (adjusted OR = 2.22, 95% CI = 0.72-6.82) were more likely to have poor appetite. Subjects who had poor appetite (adjusted OR = 3.36, 95% CI = 1.19-9.47) and insomnia (adjusted OR = 2.58, 95% CI = 0.83-7.98) were more likely to have depression. In conclusion, although the majority of subjects had normal body weight but the nutrient intake was inadequate. Poor appetite and depression were prevalent and interrelated and also strongly associated with insomnia.
Device, Scales & Questionnaire: Council of Nutrition Appetite Questionnaire (CNAQ-8); Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15)
The study evaluated the function of median sensory nerve fibers, as well as determining the relationship between its function with the duration of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) and body mass index (BMI) among CTS patients in Physiotherapy Unit, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Hospital (HUKM). Thirty subjects (6 males and 24 females) with mean age 53.30 +/- 9.20 years and duration of the CTS 51.17 +/- 50.22 months participated in this study. The sensitivity of median sensory nerve was evaluated using Current Perception Threshold (CPT) Test with stimulation frequencies of 5 Hz, 250 Hz and 2000 Hz; which demonstrated the function of C, A-delta and A-beta nerve fiber respectively. Majority of the CTS patients had normal function in the 3 types of median sensory nerve fiber. Forty percents of the subjects had abnormality in the Aa function, 7% had abnormality of the A-beta function and 27% demonstrated abnormality in the C fiber function. Spearman Correlation Test showed no significant relationship between the function of median sensory nerve and the duration of CTS and body mass index (BMI) (p > 0.05). In conclusion, although majority of the patients demonstrated normal median sensory nerve function, abnormality of the A-beta, A-delta and C fibers sensitivity in some patients requires attention to prevent worsening of the nerve function thus avoiding related complications. Physiotherapists in HUKM may intensify the use of nerve stimulating modalities such as Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) to normalize the nerve functions of these patients.
Keywords: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome; Current perception threshold; Median sensory nerve sensitivity; Body mass index
Study site: Physiotherapy Unit, Pusat Perubatan Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (PPUKM), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
The study aimed to develop Mandarin speech perception tests for Malaysian Chinese children. Two tests were developed which were the Syllabic Pattern Perception Test (SPPT) and the Tone Perception Test (TPT). Both tests were designed for children aged between three to six years-old. A total of 80 normal hearing children aged 3 years to 6 years and 11 months from several kindergartens around Kuala Lumpur and Ipoh participated in this study. Results showed that the mean scores for the SPPT did not differ significantly across age (p > 0.05), possibly due to a ceiling effect. Although the SPPT showed relatively low test-retest and inter-rater Spearman correlation coefficients (r = 0.68 for correct syllable pattern response and r = 0.38 for correct item response), the scores were highly repeatable in both test-retest and interrater conditions. For the TPT, the mean scores of five and six year old children were significantly higher than three year old subjects while the mean score of four year old subjects was significantly poorer than the six years old. The test-retest and inter-rater reliability were high and the coefficients approximated 0.80 (p < 0.05). For both tests, gender and dialects or languages used as the second language did not have significant effect on the test scores. Content validity evidence was also collected from a group of panelists. In conclusion, SPPT and TPT are reliable and valid Mandarin speech tests to be used on Malaysian Chinese children who speak Mandarin.
Lemah konvergens (CI) adalah anomali penglihatan binokular yang melibatkan kesukaran dua mata menumpu semasa penglihatan dekat. Kajian ini mengkaji prestasi penglihatan binokular subjek CI. Prestasi binokular iaitu, akuiti penglihatan (VA) binokular jauh, VA binokular dekat dan stereoakuiti dibandingkan antara subjek CI dengan subjek normal. Seramai 30 subjek CI purata umur 17.33 ± 5.49 tahun dan 30 subjek normal purata umur 18.77 ± 6.08 tahun mempunyai VA 6/6 atau lebih baik, ralat refraksi sfera tidak melebihi ± 4.00 DS, astigmatisme tidak lebih daripada 2.00 DC, tiada juling dan tidak pernah menjalani terapi penglihatan, mempunyai kesihatan am dan kesihatan okular yang baik mengambil bahagian dalam kajian ini. VA monokular mata kanan, VA monokular mata kiri, VA binokular dan stereoakuiti dua kumpulan subjek diukur dan dibandingkan. Keputusan kajian mendapati perbezaan yang signifikan bagi VA binokular jauh (t = 2.31, p < 0.05), VA binokular dekat (t = 0.89, p < 0.05) dan stereoakuiti (Z = -2.81, p < 0.01) antara subjek CI dengan subjek normal. Kesimpulan kajian menunjukkan subjek kumpulan CI mengalami penurunan prestasi penglihatan binokular jauh, prestasi penglihatan binokular dekat dan stereoakuiti yang signifikan lebih rendah berbanding kumpulan normal.
Demodex sp. merupakan ektoparasit kulit dan dikenali sebagai tungau folikel yang selalu didapati pada manusia pada semua peringkat umur, kaum dan kumpulan geografi. Objektif kajian ini adalah untuk menentukan prevalens infestasi Demodex sp. di kalangan orang dewasa berumur antara 20 hingga 29 tahun di kawasan Lembah Klang dan menentukan kaitan infestasi ektoparasit ini dengan jantina dan masalah jerawat. Kajian ini merupakan kajian pertama penentuan prevalens infestasi Demodex sp. di Malaysia. Seramai 350 orang subjek telah dikaji yang mana pemilihan sampel dilakukan secara pensampelan rawak berstrata. Pengambilan spesimen dilakukan secara kikisan kulit pada kawasan muka iaitu dahi, hidung, pipi dan dagu. Spesimen dititiskan dengan medium Hoyer dan pemerhatian dijalankan di bawah mikroskop cahaya. Borang soal selidik diedarkan untuk mengetahui kehadiran jerawat pada kulit muka. Hasil kajian mendapati prevalens keseluruhan infestasi Demodex sp. adalah 18.9% dan lelaki menunjukkan infestasi lebih tinggi (25.7%) berbanding perempuan (12.0%) manakala tiada perbezaan bermakna antara masalah jerawat dan infestasi Demodex sp. Kesimpulannya, infestasi Demodex sp. hadir di kalangan satu perlima dari subjek dengan lelaki didapati lebih bermasalah.
Self-injury is a significant predictor of future self-harm and suicide, and is associated with significant psychological morbidity. However, despite an
apparent increase in prevalence, very little research on this behaviour has been conducted within Malaysia. This paper reviews the definitional issues
pertinent to the study of self-injury including the need to adopt a consistent nomenclature for the behaviour, separate self-injury which occurs with and
without suicidal intent, and to address role of culture in defining self-injurious behaviour. A review and critique of research exploring the prevalence, function, aetiology, and correlates of self-injury across both clinical and community samples is provided. Finally, in light of the current international knowledge regarding self-injurious behaviour, recommendations to guide future research in Malaysia are proposed.
This study identified the effectiveness between home-based and hospital-based pulmonary rehabilitation program on the quality of life of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. Thirty five patients who met the inclusion criteria were referred by physicians and randomized to either hospital-based pulmonary rehabilitation (PRPH) or home-based pulmonary rehabilitation (PRPR). The PRPH program was scheduled twice a week for eight weeks at the Physiotherapy Department, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (UKMMC). Whilst, the PRPR group was required to attend sessions at the Physiotherapy Department twice to learn the exercise regimens before carrying out the exercises themselves at home. Subjects were asked to record activitites in a diary and a telephone call was made once every two weeks to ensure compliance towards the exercise regimens. The SF-36 questionnaire and Geriatric Depression Scale were outcome measures used in assessing status of patients prior to treatment and after intervention at the 8th week Seventeen (48.6%) subjects completed the PRPH and 15 (43%), the PRPR. Results indicated that in the PRPH group there were significant improvements in some of the domains of SF-36, i.e., role physical (p = 0.012) body pain (p = 0.040), general health (p = 0.008) and role emotional (p = 0.012). In the PRPR group, the Geriatric Depression Scale mean score was 1.8 ± 0.41 at baseline compared to 1.69 ± 0.48 following intervention (p > 0.05). Whilst, among the PRPH group, the mean was 1.87 ± 0.35 at baseline and 1.53 ± 0.52 after eight week (p < 0.05). In conclusion, hospital-based pulmonary rehabilitation is more effective than the home-based pulmonary rehabilitation in improving the quality of life and reducing depression among patients with COPD.
Keywords: Home Based Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program (PRPR); Hospital based Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program (PRPH); COPD; Quality of life (QOL).
Ahmad Firdaus Mohd Salleh, Anita Talib, Mohamed Abdullah Marwi, Noor Hayati Mohd Isa, Syamsa Rizal Abdullah, Raja Muhammad Zuha Raja Kamal Bashah, et al.
Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius) dan Chrysomya rufifacies (Macquart) adalah merupakan dua spesies lalat penting yang boleh dijadikan sebagai penunjuk terbaik untuk menganggarkan selang masa kematian atau Post Mortem Interval (PMI) untuk kegunaan dalam sains forensik. Penentuan PMI adalah berdasarkan kepada saiz dan peringkat perkembangan larva. Kajian perkembangan telur, larva dan pupa lalat Ch. megacepahala dan Ch. rufifacies dijalankan di bawah suhu 27ºC, 30ºC dan 33ºC di makmal dengan menggunakan kebuk pertumbuhann serangga. Data daripada kajian digunakan untuk menghasilkan satu graf pertumbuhan dan Jam Darjah Terkumpul (ADH) bagi kedua-dua spesies. Ch. megacephala mengambil masa selama 9.15 hari pada suhu 27ºC, 8.54 hari (30ºC) dan 6.76 hari (33ºC) untuk melengkapkan satu kitar hidup. Pada C. rufifacies pula, kitar hidupnya lebih lama berbanding Ch. megacephala iaitu 9.92 hari pada suhu 27ºC, 9.13 hari (30ºC) dan 7.44 hari (33ºC). Telur bagi kedua-dua spesies menetas lebih cepat pada suhu 33ºC berbanding dua suhu yang lainnya. Nilai ADH yang rendah pada sesuatu suhu, menunjukkan sesuatu spesies lebih cepat melengkapkan suatu kitar hidup. Penemuan ini berguna dalam menganggarkan selang masa kematian bagi mayat yang dijumpai pada suhu persekitaran yang berlainan.
Acanthamoeba keratitis is a serious ocular problem and can cause blindness if not treated. This study was therefore performed to evaluate the effectiveness of eyedrop antibiotics on eight Acanthamoeba spp. isolates, of which four
were clinical isolates and the remaining four from the environment. Three different eyedrop antibiotics (neomycin, ciprofloxacin and gentamicin) currently available in the market and ready for use were tested. Cyst suspension from all strains were tested against eyedrop antibiotics, respectively. After 48 hours of incubation period, the solutions were filtered and the filtered membranes were put onto non-nutrient agar lawn with E. coli. The plates were examined daily for Acanthamoeba trophozoites under inverted microscope until day 14. Neomycin, ciprofloxacin and gentamicin were found
to be effective against Acanthamoeba spp. cysts for all test strains.
Key words: Acanthamoeba Keratitis, Eyedrop Antibiotics, Effectiveness
Kajian terdahulu mendapati Respons Auditori Keadaan Mantap (ASSR) mempunyai variasi yang besar dalam meramal ambang pendengaran, manakala kebolehulangan ASSR masih kurang dilaporkan. Kajian ini bertujuan untuk menentukan kebolehulangan ASSR dalam menilai ambang pendengaran golongan dewasa lanjut umur yang bermasalah pendengaran sensorineural. Seramai 15 orang subjek berumur antara 55 hingga 75 tahun terlibat dalam kajian ini. Ambang pendengaran ditentukan menggunakan audiometri nada tulen (PTA) dan ASSR pada frekuensi 0.5, 1, 2 dan 4 kHz, di mana ASSR diulang pada 0.5 dan 1 kHz. Secara keseluruhannya, nilai ambang ASSR adalah lebih tinggi daripada PTA. ANOVA satu hala menunjukkan perbezaan antara ambang PTA dan ASSR adalah tidak signifikan pada semua frekuensi. Terdapat korelasi yang signifikan antara ambang PTA dan ambang ASSR pada 0.5 kHz (r = 0.77, p < 0.05), 1 kHz (r = 0.45, p < 0.05), 2 kHz (r = 0.58, p < 0.05) dan 4 kHz (r = 0.73, p < 0.05). Ujian t berpasangan menunjukkan tiada perbezaan signifikan antara ujian ASSR pertama dan ASSR ulangan pada frekuensi 0.5 kHz (t = 2.09, p > 0.05) dan 1 kHz (t = 0.436, p > 0.05). Korelasi Pearson menunjukkan korelasi yang sederhana di antara dua pengukuran ASSR pada 0.5 kHz (r = 0.68, p < 0.001) dan 1 kHz (r = 0.60, p < 0.001). Hasil kajian ini mendapati bahawa ambang pendengaran ASSR tidak berubah secara signifikan jika diulang uji dan ujian ASSR boleh disarankan sebagai alternatif kepada PTA dalam menentukan ambang pendengaran golongan dewasa lanjut usia bermasalah pendengaran sensorineural.
Ficus deltoidea or Mas cotek is one of the common medicinal plants used in Malaysia has been claimed to have antidiabetic activity. However, scientific evidence to confirm its efficacy is still lacking. Thus, the present study was undertaken to evaluate the potential of ethanolic extract of Ficus deltoidea to reduce hyperglycaemia in streptozotocininduced diabetic rats at different prandial state. The results showed that, ethanolic extract of Ficus deltoidea significantly reduced fasting and postprandial hyperglycemia particularly after 4 and 6 hours of extract administration. Likewise, glucose tolerance activity was significantly improved in the presence of Ficus deltoidea ethanolic extract at a low dose, 100 mg/kg. It is suggested that ethanolic extract of Ficus deltoidea at particular doses, possess fasting and postprandial antihyperglycemic activity as well as glucose tolerance activity in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.
Giardia intestinalis merupakan parasit kosmopolitan dan infeksinya tersebar luas di seluruh dunia terutamanya di negara membangun yang tahap sanitasinya rendah dan kekurangan bekalan air yang bersih. Seramai 71 orang kanak-kanak Orang Asli dari Pos Lenjang, Pahang telah terlibat di dalam kajian ini. Sampel feses dikumpul dan diperiksa bagi mengesan infeksi G. intestinalis dengan menggunakan tiga teknik diagnosis iaitu teknik apusan langsung, konsentrasi formalin-eter dan perwarnaan trikrom. Prevalens infeksi Giardia intestinalis di kalangan kanak-kanak Orang Asli di Pos Lenjang, Pahang adalah tinggi iaitu 43.7%. Dari segi jantina, prevalens infeksi hampir sama di kalangan kanak-kanak perempuan (45.0%) berbanding kanak-kanak lelaki (41.9%). Infeksi juga didapati lebih banyak berlaku di kalangan kanak-kanak bersekolah (48.6%) berbanding kanakkanak pra-sekolah (38.2%).
This survey represents an initial examination of contact lens practice in Malaysia. It is based on a questionnaire that was sent to selected members of the Association of the Malaysian Optometrists to survey the prescribing habits of g contact lenses and care products. Questions included types of lenses prescribed, care systems frequently recommended and types of complications seen. Optometrists in Malaysia prescribed an average of 90 new pairs of contact lenses per year. Soft lenses made up 84% of the prescription followed by 14% of rigid gas permeable lenses and 1.5% of polymethymethacrylate lenses. Disposable/frequent replacement lenses accounted for 60% of the soft lenses prescribed. The most commonly prescribed disinfecting system was chemical disinfection. The most common complication seen during aftercare consultation was dry eye-related problems.
Bcl-2 is an anti-apoptotic protein belonging to a family of proteins that act as regulators of apoptosis in mammalian cells. Bcl-2 expression has previously been reported in normal breast ductal cells and its involvement in the hormonal regulation of hyperplasia and involution was further suggested, and it was thought to be expressed through hormonedependent pathways. Bcl-2 is a cytoplasmic oncoprotein which is highly expressed in human solid tumours. In breast cancer cells, however, Bcl-2 expression is down regulated, the exact mechanism and the effects of which are not clearly defined, as bcl-2 expression appears to be inversely correlated with the presence of p53 mutations. This work aimed at investigating the expression of bcl-2 in invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast utilizing an immunohistochemistry assay as well as studying the clinical correlations of bcl-2. Bcl-2 was detected in 43.7% of 382 invasive ductal carcinoma study cases. Its expression correlated positively, with lower age of patients, higher histological grades, large tumour sizes, estrogen receptor positivity and progesterone receptor negativity. However, the statistical correlations were weak. With the data obtained, it was found that the expression of bcl-2 correlated with unfavourable prognoses. Furthermore, bcl-2 detection alone may not be very helpful in consolidating a clinical diagnosis.
The objective of this study was to investigate the degree to which Auditory Steady State Response (ASSR) thresholds correlate with behavioral thresholds in two groups of adult subjects, one with normal hearing and the other with sensorineural hearing impairment. When the relationship between ASSR and behavioral thresholds were analyzed separately according to different groups of subjects, significant correlations were only found for the hearing impaired group. The mean differences between the actual and the predicted thresholds derived from linear regression analysis for that group of subjects were found to be 5 dB (SD = 4), 3 dB (SD = 3), 4 dB (SD = 3) and 4 dB (SD = 4) with correlation coefficients of 0.80, 0.88, 0.91 and 0.97 for the 500, 1000, 2000 and 4000 Hz carrier frequencies, respectively. When the relationship between ASSR and behavioral thresholds were analyzed using data from both groups of subjects, correlation coefficients were found to be higher across carrier frequencies of 500 to 4000 Hz (r ³ 0.96) with mean differences between the actual and the predicted thresholds of 6 dB (SD = 3), 4 dB (SD = 3), 4 dB (SD = 3) and 6 dB (SD = 3) for the hearing impaired group and 11dB (SD = 7), 8 dB (SD = 8), 8 dB (SD = 6) and 10 dB (SD = 7) for the normal hearing group. However, it was observed that the range of differences between the actual and the predicted thresholds were quite large reaching 34 dB for the 500 and 4000 Hz carrier frequencies. This suggests that in clinical setting, ASSR cannot predict the presence or absence of a hearing loss accurately. In general, it can be concluded that ASSR allow for an accurate prediction of behavioral thresholds within ± 10 dB in subjects with hearing impairment. However, ASSR cannot accurately predict hearing thresholds in normally hearing individuals.
Key words: auditory steady-state response threshold, behavioral threshold, adult, normal hearing, hearing impairment
Kimura's disease is a chronic inflammatory disorder which affects the subcutaneous tissues of the head and neck, axilla and upper limb as well as the groin region. In the head and neck region, major salivary glands and regional lymph nodes are mainly involved with associated eosinophilia and an elevated IgE concentration. Three cases of Kimura's disease involving the parotid glands, lymph nodes and cheek are presented with a brief review of the literature.
The relationship between anaemia and cognitive function was evaluated among 35 Chinese elderly (24 men and 11 women) aged 60 to 85 years (mean age 70.1 ± 6.7 years) from five old folks homes in Klang Valley. They were interviewed to obtain information on social and health status, habitual dietary intake and cognitive function. Hodkinson's Abbreviated Mental Test was used to measure the cognitive function. Haematological indices which included Full Blood Count (FBC), serum iron, serum ferritin, Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC), serum folate and serum cobalamine (vitamin B12) were measured using an automated analyzer. Anthropometric measurements and clinical signs of anaemia were also examined. The findings indicated that the prevalence of anaemia as assessed using haemoglobin alone was 22.9%, while iron deficiency anaemia based on low serum iron, microcytic and hypochromic criterion was detected among 5.7% of the sample. Subclinical folate and vitamin B12 deficiencies were diagnosed among 34.3% and 8.6% of the subjects. However, there was no occurrence of megaloblastic anaemia. There was a positive correlation between cognitive score with mid upper arm circumference (MUAC) (r=0.547, p
Kajian ini mengukur kesan pembawaan semula jadi, punca tekanan dan reaksi tekanan ke atas kesihatan mental di kalangan juvana. Ia melibatkan 55 orang juvana dari pusat pemulihan akhlak dari lingkungan umur 15 hingga 18 tahun. General Health Questionnaire (GHQ28), Student Life Stress Inventory (SLSI), dan Dimensions of Temperament DOTSR-Child (Self) digunakan sebagai alat kajian. Manakala analisis regresi dan korelasi telah dikendalikan untuk menganalisis data. Keputusan kajian menunjukkan punca tekanan, reaksi tekanan dan pembawaan semula jadi tidak memberi kesan yang signifikan ke atas kesihatan mental juvana. Namun punca tekanan secara tunggal didapati menjadi peramal yang signifikan kepada kemurungan juvana dengan menyumbang sebanyak 14.6% daripada varian. Punca kekecewaan menyumbang sebanyak 18.1% daripada varian dalam meramal kemurungan. Reaksi emosi menyumbang sebanyak 10.6% kepada kesan anxieti dan insomnia. Punca tekanan dan pembawaan semula jadi pula menyumbang sebanyak 31% kepada reaksi emosi. Punca tekanan mempunyai korelasi positif yang sederhana dengan reaksi emosi (k = 0.55) dan mempunyai korelasi positif yang rendah dengan pembawaan semula jadi (k = 0.11) dan kesihatan mental (k = 0.23). Kesimpulannya punca tekanan memainkan peranan yang penting dalam mempengaruhi reaksi terhadap tekanan. Faktor pembawaan semula jadi tidak mempunyai pengaruh yang kuat dalam mempengaruhi reaksi tekanan dan kesihatan mental juvana. Faktor kekecewaan pula merupakan peramal yang signifikan kepada kemurungan.
The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of stimulus sweep direction on the fine structure of the 2f1-f2 distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE). It was hypothesised that the DPOAE fine structure could be shifted if the stimulus sweep changed from one direction to the other. In the present study, ascending, descending and random frequency sweeps were used, with f2 frequency varying between 992 Hz and 2496 Hz and f2/f1 fixed at 1.22. DPOAE fine structure was recorded at 16 Hz intervals. Screening, spontaneous otoacoustic emission (SOAE) and DPOAE measurements were carried out on 19 ears of 19 subjects aged between 22 and 30 years. Data from 14 ears that had at least one significant peak or valley in their DPOAE fine structure were included in the main analysis. Of these, five ears showed at least one occurrence of SOAE over the frequency span 600 Hz to 2500 Hz. Data for ears with and without SOAEs were grouped and analysed separately. The results showed no effect of sweep direction on DPOAE fine structure. No significant differences were observed in peak or valley frequencies, peak height or valley depth between the three stimulus sweep conditions (p > 0.05). There was also no significant effect of stimulus sweep direction on DPOAE level at the point at which SOAE frequency equalled DPOAE frequency (p > 0.05). In conclusion, the study found no effect of stimulus sweep direction on the fine structure of the 2f1-f2 DPOAE, either in ears with or without SOAEs. Therefore, future measurements of this fine structure may use either sweep direction.
Garis panduan saringan telinga tengah oleh American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) telah menyarankan agar pendekatan kuantitatif digunakan untuk menginterpretasi keputusan timpanogram. Berbanding pendekatan kualitatif yang digunapakai untuk menginterpretasi timpanogram sebelum ini, pendekatan kuantitatif adalah lebih sesuai kerana ianya bersifat objektif serta dapat diaplikasi dengan peralatan timpanometer komersial yang terdapat di pasaran sekarang. Kajian ini bertujuan untuk mendapatkan nilai mutlak ciri timpanometri iaitu puncak statik admitan akustik dikompensasi (Puncak Ytm), kelebaran timpanogram (TW) dan isipadu salur telinga luar (Vea) di kalangan kanak-kanak pra-sekolah normal dan Sindrom Down. Lima belas kanak-kanak normal dan 12 kanak-kanak Sindrom Down yang memenuhi kriteria pemilihan subjek terlibat di dalam kajian ini. Nilai purata Puncak Ytm dan Vea bagi kanak-kanak normal masing-masing adalah 0.36 mmho dan 0.57 cm3 manakala kanak-kanak Sindrom Down mencatat nilai purata 0.14 mmho dan 0.38 cm3. Kanak-kanak normal dan Sindrom Down masingmasing mencatatkan nilai purata TW 99.73 dan 148.65 daPa. Analisis statistik menunjukkan terdapat perbezaan yang signifikan di antara kedua-dua kumpulan subjek bagi ketiga-tiga nilai parameter timpanometri yang diperolehi.