Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 5, 2026

Semi-Automated Analysis of Peak Amplitude and Latency for Auditory Brainstem Response Waveforms Using R
Published on: December 9, 2022
The effect of hypoxia on hearing function
Nevreste Didem Sonbay Yılmaz1, Cem Saka2, Burcu Oktay Arslan3
1Department of Ear, Nose, and Throat, Antalya Education and Training Hospital, Antalya, Turkey
Background/Aim:
This study was conducted to determine the critical partial oxygen pressure (pO2) value that would impair hearing function by evaluating the effects of hypoxia on hearing function in subjects diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (CPOD).
Materials And Methods:
The study included 25 male and 5 female patients referred to our clinic who were diagnosed with COPD, according to spirometry and PaO2 values, and who did not show pathology upon autoscopic examination. The control group consisted of 14 female and 16 male patients who had no lung disease and were in the same age range as the COPD group.
Results:
A statistically significant difference was found between the two groups for distortion-product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) (P < 0.001). The COPD group was divided into two groups according to pO2 levels (pO2 ≤ 70 and pO2 > 70) in order to find a critical pO2 level which might cause significant change at a certain audiological extent.
Conclusion:
Hypoxia causes long-term decline in hearing thresholds, deterioration of DPOAE results, and prolongation of I–V interpeak latency in auditory brainstem response. However, the critical oxygen level that disrupts hearing function could not be determined.
Related Concept Videos
Hypoxia
Types of Hypoxia
There are four primary types of hypoxia, each resulting from a different cause:
1. Anemic hypoxia: This type occurs due to insufficient oxygen delivery caused by a lack of red blood cells (RBCs) or RBCs with abnormal or...
Acute Respiratory Failure-II
The underlying physiological abnormalities that contribute to hypoxemic respiratory failure include:
Oxygen Transport in the Blood
Respiratory Assessment: Purpose and Indications
Objectives and Importance:
The primary goal of respiratory assessment is to evaluate patients at early risk of clinical deterioration. Since respiratory distress often precedes other signs of declining health, breathing patterns and sounds become a...
Factors Affecting Respiration
Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Oxygen Therapy for Respiratory Failure
Oxygen therapy is vital in increasing and maintaining blood oxygen levels in PAH patients. As a result, it aids in reducing fatigue,...

