Effects of exercise and noise on auditory thresholds and distortion-product otoacoustic emissions

Differences in auditory thresholds and distortion-product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) levels were investigated as a function of gender, ear, frequency, and experimental condition: quiet sedentary activity, exercise, noise, and exercise and noise combined. In general, participants displayed significant elevations in auditory thresholds of approximately 6 to 13 dB following the two conditions employing noise exposure. There were no significant differences in either auditory threshold differences before and following the quiet and exercise conditions or between the noise-alone and combined exercise and noise conditions. Participants also displayed significant reductions in DPOAE levels of approximately 6 to 7 dB following the two conditions employing noise exposure. The findings also showed no gender or ear effects on auditory threshold or DPOAE level differences. Further, there was no evidence of a synergistic combination of exercise and noise on auditory function as revealed by changes in hearing threshold or DPOAE levels.