[Amplitude changes in distortion products of otoacoustic emissions after acute noise exposure]

The inner ear responds to acute impact of high-intensity noise with a temporary threshold shift (TTS), which represents a reaction of the outer hair cells. That is why TTS should be detectable as changes of distortion-product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE).

DPOAE were measured in 102 ears in 59 test subjects with normal hearing before and after definitive noise exposure (20 min of "white noise" at 90 dB HL). We also registrated the TTS (4kHz) immediately after noise and measured DP changes during a 30-min recovery period.

Typically we found a reduction of DP amplitude. It averaged between 2.0 and 2.5 dB HL in the frequency range from 2 to 5 kHz. There was no correlation between TTS and DP amplitude reduction at 4kHz. During the recovery period, individual ears showed an erratic pattern of DP amplitudes. However, a tendency toward incremental DP amplitude regeneration appeared after averaging. As many as 10% of the measured ears showed an atypical reaction with an increase of DP amplitudes. Whether the latter is due to errors in the test procedure or is evidence of a particularly stable inner ear remains to be discussed.

The results are further proof for the reaction of the outer hair cells on acute noise impact, which apparently leads to an increase of the stiffness of basilary membrane due to contraction processes. It may be possible to differentiate vulnerable inner ears from stable ones.