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Updated: Sep 26, 2025
07:13
Modified Experimental Conditions for Noise-Induced Hearing Loss in Mice and Assessment of Hearing Function and Outer Hair Cell Damage
Published on: February 10, 2023
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Extensive hearing loss induced by low-frequency noise exposure.
Junping Liu1, Jastin Antisdel2, Changming Liu1
1Department of Otolaryngology - Head Neck Surgery, Mindong Hospital The Affiliated Mindong Hospital of Fujian Medical University Fuan China.
Laryngoscope Investigative Otolaryngology
|April 18, 2022
Summary
Low-frequency traffic noise can cause significant hearing loss across all frequencies. Exposure to 0.063 kHz octave band noise for six hours induced widespread damage to cochlear outer hair cells, impacting both low and high hearing ranges.
Area of Science:
- Audiology
- Environmental Health
- Ototoxicology
Background:
- Low-frequency traffic noise exposure is understudied despite potential cochlear susceptibility.
- Urgent need to assess traffic noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) across all frequencies.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate hearing loss from 0.063 kHz octave band noise (OBN), a key component of traffic noise.
- Evaluate the impact of low-frequency noise on auditory brainstem response (ABR) thresholds.
Main Methods:
- Chinchillas exposed to 0.063, 2, or 4 kHz OBN (90 dB SPL) for 3 or 6 hours.
- Auditory brainstem response (ABR) measured pre- and post-exposure.
- Control group received no noise exposure.
Main Results:
- Significant ABR threshold shifts observed at multiple frequencies (0.88-5.7 kHz) after 6-hour exposure to 0.063 kHz OBN.
- Threshold shifts correlated with outer hair cell (OHC) loss.
- 0.063 kHz OBN exposure caused extensive OHC damage in low and high frequency regions.
Conclusions:
- Exposure to 0.063 kHz low-frequency OBN for 6 hours causes significant hearing loss.
- Hearing impairment extends across a wide range of frequencies, from low to high.
- Low-frequency noise poses a substantial risk to overall auditory function.
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