[Distortion product otoacoustic emissions in sensorineural hearing loss]

The measurement of distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOE), one of the types of otoacoustic emissions (OES) gives the possibility of frequency--specific, objective assessment of cochlear function. Data were collected from 67 ears with sensorineural hearing loss and 30 normally hearing ears as a control group. Percentage of DPOE response detected above the noise floor level was evaluated in relation to the pure-tone audiometric thresholds. Analysis of correlation coefficient between amplitude of DPOE and degree of hearing loss for respective frequencies was performed. DPOE were detected in significantly lower percentage in the group of ears with sensorineural hearing loss exceeding 60 dB HL. The amplitude of DPOE decreased with the degree of hearing loss detected in pure-tone audiometry. There was statistically significant correlation (r -0.65(-)-0.85) in all examined frequencies between DPOE and hearing loss (1-6 kHz).