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Medial olivocochlear function in children with poor speech-in-noise performance and language disorder
Caroline Nunes Rocha-Muniz1, Renata Mota Mamede Carvallo1, Eliane Schochat1
1Universidade de São Paulo School of Medicine (USP), São Paulo, Brazil.
Objectives:
Contralateral masking of transient-evoked otoacoustic emissions is a phenomenon that suggests an inhibitory effect of the olivocochlear efferent auditory pathway. Many studies have been inconclusive in demonstrating a clear connection between this system and a behavioral speech-in-noise listening skill. The purpose of this study was to investigate the activation of a medial olivocochlear (MOC) efferent in children with poor speech-in-noise (PSIN) performance and children with language impairment and PSIN (SLI + PSIN).
Methods:
Transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAEs) with and without contralateral white noise were tested in 52 children (between 6 and 12 years). These children were arranged in three groups: typical development (TD) (n = 25), PSIN (n = 14) and SLI + PSI (n = 13).
Results:
PSIN and SLI + PSI groups presented reduced otoacoustic emission suppression in comparison with the TD group.
Conclusion:
Our finding suggests differences in MOC function among children with typical development and children with poor SIN and language problems.