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Updated: Jul 5, 2026

An Automated System for Sound Localization Testing in Hearing-Impaired Listeners
Published on: March 13, 2026
Medial olivocochlear functioning and speech perception in noise in older adults
Siti Zamratol-Mai Sarah Mukari1, Wan Hasyimah Wan Mamat
1Department of Audiology and Speech Sciences, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. zamratol@hotmail.com
Abstract:
The purposes of this study were to: (1) compare medial olivocochlear system (MOCS) functioning and speech perception in noise in young and older adults and (2) to quantify the correlation between MOCS functioning and speech perception in noise. Measurements were taken in 20 young (mean 26.3 +/- 2.1 years) and 20 older adults (mean 55.2 +/- 2.8 years). Contralateral distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) suppression was measured to assess MOCS functioning. Speech perception in noise was evaluated using the Hearing in Noise Test in noise-ipsilateral, noise-front and noise-contralateral test conditions. The results revealed that the older group had a significantly lower high-frequency (3-8 kHz) contralateral DPOAE suppression, and performed more poorly in the noise-ipsilateral condition than the younger group. However, there was no correlation between contralateral DPOAE suppression and speech perception in noise. This study suggests that poor speech perception performance in noise experienced by older adults might be due to a decline in medial olivocochlear functioning, among other factors.
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