Oxygen consumption and noise-induced TTS in humans

Young adult men (N:16) were used to examine the effects of increased oxygen availability upon noise-induced TTS. In 2 sessions a day apart, Ss inhaled either medical grade air or 100% oxygen during monaural exposure in their better ear to 10 min of narrow-band noise centered a 3 kc/s at 100 db SPL. Oxygen consumption was recorded with a respirometer during oxygen breathing. Conditions were counterbalanced among Ss. TTS2 min at 4 kc/s was significantly less with oxygen inhalation, confirming a previous study; however, no relationship was found between amount of oxygen consumed and the amount of TTS during pure oxygen inhalation.