Auditory brain stem responses in rhesus monkey with otitis media with effusion

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Neuroscience
• Primate Research

Background:

• Otitis media with effusion (OME) is a common condition affecting the middle ear.
• Auditory dysfunction associated with OME can impact development and quality of life.
• Nonhuman primate models offer valuable insights into human physiological conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate auditory function in juvenile rhesus monkeys with OME using Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) testing.
• To quantify the auditory impairment associated with OME in this animal model.
• To assess the utility of ABR in documenting auditory changes in OME.

Main Methods:

• Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) testing was performed on 17 anesthetized juvenile rhesus monkeys.
• Recordings were compared between 13 control ears (no OME) and 7 experimental ears (with OME).
• Stimulus presentation levels varied from 80 to 20 dB hearing level.

Main Results:

• Experimental ears with OME showed increased response latencies at all tested stimulus levels compared to control ears.
• Interwave latencies remained consistent between the control and experimental groups.
• An average peripheral hearing loss of 25 dB, primarily of middle ear origin, was suggested by the results.

Conclusions:

• Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) is a viable method for documenting auditory impairment in nonhuman primates with OME.
• OME is associated with significant peripheral auditory delays, likely due to middle ear dysfunction.
• This study provides evidence for using primate models to understand OME-related hearing issues.