Related Experiment Videos
Quantitative assessment of human cochlear function by evoked otoacoustic emissions
1Laboratory of Audition, Faculty of Medicine Lariboisière St-Louis, University Paris VII, France.
Hearing Research
|March 1, 1991
Summary
Evoked otoacoustic emissions (EOE) thresholds correlate with hearing loss at 2 kHz, regardless of cochlear dysfunction cause. This suggests EOE reflects overall cochlear activity, not specific frequencies, but is insensitive to early damage.
Area of Science:
- Audiology
- Otoacoustic Emissions
- Cochlear Physiology
Background:
- Evoked otoacoustic emissions (EOE) are objective measures of cochlear function.
- Understanding the relationship between EOE and hearing thresholds is crucial for diagnosing cochlear dysfunction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between EOE detection threshold and pure-tone audiometric thresholds in individuals with normal hearing and cochlear dysfunction.
- To explore the frequency specificity of EOE thresholds.
Main Methods:
- EOE amplitudes and detection thresholds were measured in 44 normal adults and 118 patients with acoustic trauma or presbycusis.
- Partial correlation and multivariate analysis were used to correlate EOE thresholds with audiometric thresholds from 250 to 8000 Hz.
Main Results:
- A significant linear correlation was found between EOE threshold and hearing threshold at 2 kHz (P < 0.001), independent of the cochlear dysfunction type.
- EOE thresholds were not found to be frequency-specific, with EOE frequencies near 1 kHz at threshold.
- A proposed model suggests EOE reflects the total number of active sites in the organ of Corti.
Conclusions:
- EOE threshold is a sensitive indicator of overall cochlear activity but not frequency-specific.
- The EOE threshold can quantitatively predict residual cochlear activity.
- EOE thresholds are only sensitive to significant cochlear alterations and may not be suitable for monitoring early-stage dysfunction.