Nonlinear Vibration Response Measured at Umbo and Stapes in the Rabbit Middle ear

Using laser vibrometry and a stimulation and signal analysis method based on multisines, we have measured the response and the nonlinearities in the vibration of the rabbit middle ear at the level of the umbo and the stapes. With our method, we were able to detect and quantify nonlinearities starting at sound pressure levels of 93-dB SPL. The current results show that no significant additional nonlinearity is generated as the vibration signal is passed through the middle ear chain. Nonlinearities are most prominent in the lower frequencies (125 Hz to 1 kHz), where their level is about 40 dB below the vibration response. The level of nonlinearities rises with a factor of nearly 2 as a function of sound pressure level, indicating that they may become important at very high sound pressure levels such as those used in high-power hearing aids.