Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Perceptual Distortion”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 757 records · Page 42Linked to original sources
PubMed2000

Correlations among evoked potential thresholds, distortion product otoacoustic emissions and hair cell loss following various noise exposures in the chinchilla.

Changes in cubic distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DeltaDPOAEs), evoked potential threshold shifts (TSs) and outer hair cell (OHC) losses were measured in a population of 95 noise-exposed chinchillas. Each animal was exposed to one of 23 different noises in an asymptotic threshold shift (ATS) producing paradigm or an interrupted noise paradigm which typically produced a toughening effect. Noises were narrow band (400 Hz) impacts with center frequencies of 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0 or 8.0 kHz presented 1 impact/s at peak SPLs of 109, 115, 121 or 127 dB. The duration of the exposures was 24 h/day for 5 days (ATS paradigm) or 6 h/day for 20 days (toughening paradigm). Based on a linear regression analysis of individual subject and group mean data, correlations among the following dependent variables were made: DeltaDPOAEs, ATS, toughening or TS recovery (TS(r)), permanent threshold shift (PTS) and OHC loss. Correlations among these metrics were generally highest for DPOAE primary frequency levels, L(1)=L(2)=70 dB. Correlation between DeltaDPOAE and TS(r) was typically low, while a considerably higher correlation was found between DeltaDPOAE and ATS. Correlations among the permanent measures of noise-induced effects, i.e. for DeltaDPOAE/PTS and DeltaDPOAE/OHC loss were typically poor when there was only a small or a moderate noise-induced effect (PTS<25 dB and DeltaDPOAE<20 dB). However, for PTS<25 dB the correlation between PTS and OHC loss was considerably better than the correlation between DeltaDPOAE and OHC loss. For more severe noise-induced changes there was generally a good correspondence between OHC loss, PTS and DeltaDPOAE metrics.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Context-dependent arm pointing adaptation.

We sought to determine the effectiveness of head posture as a contextual cue to facilitate adaptive transitions in manual control during visuomotor distortions. Subjects performed arm pointing movements by drawing on a digitizing tablet, with targets and movement trajectories displayed in real time on a computer monitor. Adaptation was induced by presenting the trajectories in an altered gain format on the monitor. The subjects were shown visual displays of their movements that corresponded to either 0.5 or 1.5 scaling of the movements made. Subjects were assigned to three groups: the head orientation group tilted the head towards the right shoulder when drawing under a 0.5 gain of display and towards the left shoulder when drawing under a 1.5 gain of display; the target orientation group had the home and target positions rotated counterclockwise when drawing under the 0.5 gain and clockwise for the 1.5 gain; the arm posture group changed the elbow angle of the arm they were not drawing with from full flexion to full extension with 0.5 and 1.5 gain display changes. To determine if contextual cues were associated with display alternations, the gain changes were returned to the standard (1.0) display. Aftereffects were assessed to determine the efficacy of the head orientation contextual cue compared to the two control cues. The head orientation cue was effectively associated with the multiple gains. The target orientation cue also demonstrated some effectiveness while the arm posture cue did not. The results demonstrate that contextual cues can be used to switch between multiple adaptive states. These data provide support for the idea that static head orientation information is a crucial component to the arm adaptation process. These data further define the functional linkage between head posture and arm pointing movements.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

2f1-f2 distortion product otoacoustic emissions in White Leghorn chickens (Gallus domesticus): effects of frequency ratio and relative level.

The effects of primary tone frequency ratio (f2/f1 ratio) and relative level (L2/L1) on the amplitude of the cubic difference tone (CDT: 2f1-f2) distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) were investigated in adult White Leghorn chickens (Gallus domesticus). In experiment 1, 9 f2/f1 ratios ranging from 1.05 to 1.8 were investigated. Measurements were obtained from both ears of 4 chickens at 7 f1 frequencies ranging from 0.8 to 4.0 kHz. The primary tones were equal in level, and varied from 20 to 80 dB SPL. The mean CDT amplitude increased with increasing primary tone level once the measurement noise floor was exceeded. The input/ output functions assumed one of two shapes: one in which there was a systematic increase in DPOAE amplitude with increasing primary tone level, and the other in which there was a plateau in the input/output function near 65-70 dB SPL. At the highest primary tone level (80 dB SPL), there was a decrease in the CDT amplitude with increasing f2/f1 ratio. At high primary tone levels, the f2/f1 ratio which produced the largest CDT was 1.05 or 1.1, while at lower primary tone levels the largest CDT occurred at f2/f1 ratios of 1.2-1.3. In experiment 2, L2 was held constant at 70 dB SPL, and L1 varied from 50 to 80 dB SPL. For f1 frequencies of 0.8 and 3.2 kHz, there was an increase in the CDT amplitude with increasing L1, followed by an asymptote at higher levels. In contrast, for 1.6 and 2.0 kHz f1 frequencies, the amplitude increased, plateaued and then increased again at higher levels. Informal measurements suggest that spontaneous otoacoustic emissions (SOAEs) are rarely seen in chickens. However, a reliable SOAE was observed in 1 chicken, which could be suppressed by external sounds and anoxia.

Acoustic Stimulation↗
PubMed2002

The effects of a connexin 26 mutation--35delG--on oto-acoustic emissions and brainstem evoked potentials: homozygotes and carriers.

The purpose of this study was to examine whether outer hair cells (OHCs), inner hair cells and the brainstem auditory pathway are impaired due to a mutation in a gap junction protein, connexin 26 (Cx26), 35delG. Fifty-six individuals, from a village with widespread consanguinity and profound, non-syndromic congenital deafness, due to 35delG mutation, were selected among relatives of deaf people. The individuals were either non-carriers (n=20), heterozygous (n=20) or homozygous (n=16) for the mutation. Distortion product oto-acoustic emissions (DPOAEs) and auditory brainstem evoked potentials (ABEPs) in mutation non-carriers, in heterozygotes (carriers) and in subjects homozygous for the mutation were compared in addition to audiometric evaluation. Most deaf homozygotes had no DPOAEs, except some sporadic responses at 1000, 8000 and 10000 Hz. This was also observed in audiometry which showed profound hearing loss in most cases. Two cases were unique: one had moderate to severe hearing loss and the other had severe to profound hearing loss. A significant difference was found between non-carriers and carriers of 35delG: non-carriers had larger DPOAE responses than heterozygotes at all frequencies. The prevalence of responses got lower with higher frequencies in both groups, but between 6000 and 10000 Hz 50-70% of the carriers had no DPOAE responses, compared to 30-60% of non-carriers. In both groups responses diminished with age, but no significant interaction was found between age and the genetic group. ABEPs among homozygotes were variable: in most homozygotes ABEPs were absent or partial (waves III, V) with prolonged latencies, but two subjects had ABEPs within normal limits, in one ear. ABEPs were normal with no differences between carriers and non-carriers. We suggest that OHC function is affected by the 35delG mutation in Cx26. In addition, the hearing of carriers of this mutation may be impaired at very high frequencies (8000-10000 Hz), which are not assessed in routine audiometry or ABEP testing.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Adaptation of distortion product otoacoustic emission in humans.

Previous studies of animals observed a phenomenon of adaptation of distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) and found that the phenomenon was mediated to a large extent by the medial olivocochlear (MOC) reflex. The present study investigated DPOAE adaptation in humans. The following stimuli were used: f2/f1 = 1.2; f2 = 2, 4, or 5.65 kHz; L2 = 50-65 dB SPL re 20 microPa rms, L1 - L2 = 0-15 dB, where L1 and L2 represent levels of the f1 and f2 tones, respectively; duration of two-tone burst = 5.5 s; interburst gap = 20 or 30 s; number of repetitions = 40 or 64. We analyzed the 2f1 - f2 DPOAE as a function of time using a method of heterodyne envelope detection. The subjects were 20 humans aged from 15 to 54 years (median = 21 years) with normal hearing. We observed that (1) humans exhibited DPOAE adaptation phenomenon; (2) the time course of DPOAE level was characterized by a 2-exponential function; (3) distributions of the fast and slow time constants were well separated with their median values being 69 ms and 1.51 s, respectively; (4) distributions of the magnitudes of the fast and slow adaptation components were largely overlapped with their median values being 0.65 and 0.40 dB, respectively; and (5) the combined magnitude of the adaptation ranged from 0.4 to 3.0 dB with a median of 1.10 dB. To our knowledge, the present study is the first published article to describe adaptation of DPOAE in humans. These results should help advance the basic knowledge of human cochlear mechanics operating under the control of the MOC feedback system and contribute to the development of practical applications such as identifying people at high risk of acoustical injury and a clinical test of the functional status of the MOC system.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed2000

An examination of gender differences in DPOAE phase delay measurements in normal-hearing human adults.

This study examined gender differences in f(1)- and f(2)-sweep distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) phase delay measures in 60 normal-hearing human adults. Phase delay measures were obtained at six different f(2) frequencies ranging from 1.1 to 6.0 kHz (f(2)/f(1) ratios were 1.1-1.3). Primary levels for f(2) were 45 and 50 dB SPL (f(1)f(2)). Gender differences have been observed in normal-hearing human adults in both auditory brainstem response (ABR) and f(1)-sweep DPOAE studies. Gender differences in delay have been attributed to differences in the average length of the cochlea, where female cochleas are 13% shorter than male cochleas. Previously, the authors have proposed that the f(1)-sweep phase delay estimate is predominantly composed of a level-independent transport time to the site of DPOAE generation and a small proportion of the level and frequency-dependent filter build-up time. The f(2)-sweep delay also contains the transport time, however, it is predominantly composed of the filter build-up time. Therefore, delay differences between stimulation paradigms are equal to a proportion of the filter build-up time. In this study, mean f(1)- and f(2)-sweep delays were significantly longer in male ears than female ears at 1.1 kHz (45 and 50 dB). At 50 dB, f(1)-sweep phase delay measures were 18% longer in male ears (6.5 ms) than female ears (5.5 ms). Mean f(2)-sweep delays were 23% longer in male ears (10.0 ms) than female ears (8.1 ms). This gender difference was not observed when the isolated filter build-up time was calculated from the DPOAE phase delay difference. These observations may therefore be attributed to a gender-related anatomical difference in cochlear length.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Distortion-product otoacoustic emissions in Mongolian gerbils with resistance to noise-induced hearing loss.

Distortion-product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) and the endocochlear potential (EP) were recorded in adult Mongolian gerbils exposed to noise for either 1 or 12 days. The exposure was an octave band of noise centered at 4 kHz at 80 dB SPL with a duty cycle of 6 h on, 18 h off. A previous study showed that a single such exposure causes 20-50 dB of temporary threshold shift (TTS) in the neural response at 4-8 kHz, but that the TTS is reduced to less than 10 dB following 12 daily exposures [Boettcher, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 94, 3207-3214 (1993)]. This reduction in TTS is commonly referred to as resistance to noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). To further analyze whether resistance to NIHL is caused by changes in the outer hair cell (OHC) system or the lateral wall system (or both), DPOAEs and EPs were measured in the exposed ears. The amplitudes of DPOAEs were significantly reduced in the frequency region from 4 to 10 kHz in subjects exposed to noise for 1 day, but were relatively normal in subjects exposed for 12 days. DPOAE amplitudes from frequency regions below the spectrum of the exposure were similar across the exposure and control groups except at the low-frequency edge of the noise where DPOAE amplitudes were consistently higher than normal in the exposed animals. The EP values in both exposure groups were not reduced from normal, unexposed levels. Thus there was no causal relationship between changes in the EP and the reduction of the DPOAE amplitudes. These data suggest that the development of resistance to noise is related to an initial depression of OHC activity followed by a recovery of activity to a stable level, despite an ongoing exposure.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Effects of aging on the fine structure of the 2f1-f2 acoustic distortion product.

The fine structures of 2f1-f2 acoustic distortion products (ADP) were measured in four groups of human subjects: (1) young with normal hearing, (2) aged with normal or near-normal hearing, (3) aged subjects with more severe hearing loss above 2000 Hz, and (4) young with hearing similar to those of the normal- or near-normal-hearing aged group. The purpose of this study was to investigate how ADP fine structure changes with age and hearing loss. Results show that the fine structure is observable whenever the ADP is measurable, and its sharpness, defined as the peak-to-peak frequency distance, is independent of age hearing loss, and longitudinal amplitude change. There is a large variance in ADP peak amplitudes in aged subjects with or without hearing loss as compared to young normal hearing subjects, the aged group generally having lower peak amplitudes than those of the young group. According to an ANOVA analysis with absolute threshold as covariate, the null hypothesis stating that there is no aging effect on the ADP peak responses cannot be ruled out, a conclusion similar to that made by Stover and Norton [J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 94, 2670-2681 (1993)]. On the other hand, threshold changes cannot explain all the differences in ADP amplitude. It is clear that the relationship between ADP amplitudes and behavioral thresholds can differ between young and aged populations. At primary levels of 50 dB SPL, almost normal ADP magnitudes are often found in aged subjects even when associated with a 35-dB hearing loss, whereas for young subjects ADPs typically were not measurable when associated with the pure-tone thresholds of 20 dB HL or higher. This dichotomy may be explained by the different etiologies of cochlear pathologies predominant in the two groups.

Acoustics↗
PubMed1987

Acoustic distortion products in rabbit ear canal. II. Sites of origin revealed by suppression contours and pure-tone exposures.

Previous work on acoustic distortion products (DPs) recorded from the ear canal has not established unequivocally whether emitted DPs principally reflect basilar-membrane nonlinearities at the frequency sites of the primary tones, f1 and f2, or if the DP-frequency place itself makes a significant contribution to the emitted response. Results from some studies on acoustic emissions attribute generation of the emitted DP almost exclusively to the regions of maximum primary-tone interaction, while the findings of other investigations implicate reemission of the response from the DP locus as a significant contributor to response magnitude. Using suppression, interfering tones, and temporary threshold shift (TTS) procedures, the work reported here was designed to establish more definitively the precise contributions of the basilar-membrane regions involved in generating acoustic DPs in rabbits. Suppression tuning curves and interfering-tone experiments indicated that for the DP at 2f1-f2, regions near the f1 or f2 frequencies were the major contributors to the emitted response. However, for the higher-frequency DP at 2f2-f1, the basilar-membrane region just basal to the DP site was implicated as the generator. Following brief episodes of TTS at frequencies related to either the DP or the primary tones, the locus of the exposure stimulus that most effectively reduced the magnitude of the 2f1-f2 response also implicated the region of maximal primary-tone interaction in the generation of the acoustic DP. In contrast, for the DP at 2f2-f1, basilar-membrane sites nearer the DP were identified as the primary contributors to the emitted response. Both sets of results imply that different DPs recorded from the ear canal may originate from unique regions of primary-tone interaction along the basilar membrane.

Acoustic Stimulation↗
PubMed1987

Acoustic distortion products in rabbit ear canal. I. Basic features and physiological vulnerability.

In contrast to evoked otoacoustic emissions, acoustic distortion products (DPs) recorded from the ear canal are present at predictable frequencies with respect to their primary tones, f1 and f2. Such specificity may provide detailed frequency-place information concerning the functional state of limited regions of the organ of Corti following experimental intervention. However, to date, it is not clear whether emitted DPs solely reflect activity at the basilar-membrane regions of primary tones or if the remote DP site makes a significant contribution to the emitted signal measured in the ear canal. We have investigated a number of the general features of acoustic-DP generation in the rabbit so that, in later experiments, the contributions of specific basilar-membrane regions involved in generating these DPs can be identified using techniques designed to manipulate their normal properties. The first report describes the outcome of systematic manipulations of a number of stimulus conditions and alterations to the physiological state of the cochlea by exposure to fatiguing sound or anoxia. Experimental findings for the 2f1-f2 DP showed that, in general, the relations of the levels and frequency of the primary tones to DP magnitude were consistent with previously published data from other mammalian species. Additional observations for other odd-order intermodulation DPs at the 3f1-2f2 and 2f2-f1 frequencies suggested that the basic attributes of the acoustic DPs were similarly affected by systematic manipulation of the basic parameters of the primary tones and the general metabolic state of the cochlea. General anesthesia, however, did not affect DP amplitude. A companion paper describes the results of a series of subsequent experiments using response-suppression, interfering-tone, and temporary threshold shift techniques which address more directly the issue of which basilar-membrane sites contribute to the generation of different acoustic DPs.

Anesthesia, General↗
PubMed1997

Two-tone distortion on the basilar membrane of the chinchilla cochlea.

Basilar membrane responses to pairs of tones were measured, with the use of a laser velocimeter, in the basal turn of the cochlea in anesthetized chinchillas. Frequency spectra of basilar membrane responses to primary tones with frequencies (f1, f2) close to the characteristic frequency (CF) contain prominent odd-order two-tone distortion products (DPs) at frequencies both higher and lower than CF (such as 2f1-f2, 3f1-2f3, 2f2-f1 and 3f2-2f1). For equal-level primaries with frequencies such that 2f1-f2 equals CF, the magnitude of the 2f1-f2 DP grows with primary level at linear or faster rates at low stimulus levels, but it saturates or decreases slightly at higher levels. For a fixed level of one of the primary tones, the magnitude of the 2f1-f2 DP is a nonmonotonic function of the level of the other primary tone. For low intensities of the variable tone, the 2f1-f2 DP grows at a rate of approximately 2 dB/dB with f1 level and 1 dB/dB with f2 level. DP magnitudes decrease rapidly with increasing primary frequency ratio (f2/f1) at low stimulus levels. For more intense stimuli, DP magnitudes remain constant or decrease slowly over a wide range of frequency ratios until a critical value is reached, at which DP magnitudes fall with slopes as steep as -300 dB/octave. As stimulus level grows, DP phases increasingly lag for large f2/f1 ratios, but exhibit leads for small f2/f1 ratios. Cochlear exposure to an intense tone that produces large sensitivity losses for the primary frequencies (but only small losses for tones with frequency equal to 2f1-f2) causes a substantial decrease in magnitude of the 2f1-f2 DP. This result demonstrates that the 2f1-f2 DP originates at the basilar membrane region with CFs corresponding to the primary frequencies and propagates to the location with CF equal to the DP frequency. 2f1-f2 DPs on the basilar membrane resemble those measured in human psychophysics in most respects. However, the magnitude of basilar membrane DPs does not show the nonmonotonic dependence on f2/f1 ratio evident in DP otoacoustic emissions.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Distortion product otoacoustic emission and auditory brainstem responses in the echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus).

The auditory function of four wild-caught echidnas was measured using distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) and auditory brainstem responses (ABRs). Emission audiograms were constructed by finding the stimulus levels required to produce a criterion emission amplitude at a given stimulus frequency. For an emission amplitude of -10 dB SPL, the median "best threshold" was 28 dB SPL, and this minimum threshold occurred between 4 and 8 kHz for all animals. The relative effective range of auditory function was defined by the frequencies at which the audiogram was 30 dB above its best threshold. For the emission audiograms, the median lower-frequency limit was 2.3 kHz, the upper limit was 18.4 kHz, and the effective range was 2.7 octaves. The audiogram as measured by ABR was also found to be strongly "U" shaped with similar low- and high-frequency limits, i.e., from 1.6 to 13.9 kHz, with an effective range of 3.1 octaves. These results suggest that the echidna has a behavioral hearing sensitivity comparable to that of typical therian mammals (e.g., rabbits and gerbils) but with a significantly narrower frequency range. DPOAE responses were also measured in selected animals as a function of the variation of all four stimulus parameters (frequencies and intensities of both stimulus tones). Overall, the measured emission responses establish that the echidna does have a cochlear amplifier, and that it could be the same type as in therian mammals. The amplification mechanism in the echidna, currently unidentified, clearly operates to frequencies above 20 kHz, higher than the hearing function observed in any birds or reptiles but lower than for typical therian mammals. This raises the possibility that at least some aspects of the mammalian cochlear amplifier developed early in evolution, before the divergence of the monotremes (echidna and platypus) from the mainstream therian mammals (marsupials and placentals). In this respect, the presence or absence of outer hair cell electromotility in monotremes would have important consequences for understanding the function and evolution of the vertebrate inner ear.

Acoustic Stimulation↗
PubMed1996

Distortion product otoacoustic emission (2f1-f2) amplitude as a function of f2/f1 frequency ratio and primary tone level separation in human adults and neonates.

Distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) (2f1-f2) amplitude is dependent upon both the frequency ratio and level separation of the eliciting primary tones. In adults it has been established that, on average, a f2/f1 ratio of 1.22 is optimal for evoking the most robust DPOAE; DPOAE amplitude is systematically reduced when f2/f1 ratio is either increased or decreased, thus forming a bandpass function (Harris et al., 1989). The frequency ratio function (DPOAE amplitude x f2/f1 ratio) is thought to reflect the filtering properties of the cochlea (Allen and Fahey, 1993; Brown et al., 1993). Primary tone level separation also influences DPOAE amplitude, with a 10- to 15-dB level difference between the primary tones (L1 > L2) typically generating largest amplitude in adults. Equivalent studies have not been conducted in neonates. The present study evoked the 2f1-f2 DPOAE in adults, term and premature neonates to define the optimal f2/f1 ratio and L1-L2 level separation and to investigate the filtering properties of the developing cochlea. Two f2 frequencies were investigated: 1500 and 6000 Hz. F2 was held constant while f1 was varied to produce 13 frequency ratios. Primary tone level separation varied from 15 to 0- in 5-dB intervals. ANOVA were conducted on the resulting f2/f1 frequency ratio and level separation data. Results showed that the mean optimal frequency ratio for DPOAE generation is comparable in adults and neonates. Also, either a 15- or 10-dB level separation (L1 > L2) produced the largest DPOAE amplitude for adults and term neonates whereas DPOAEs from premature neonates appeared to be relatively insensitive to primary tone level separation. The f2/f1 frequency ratio functions were similar in shape, slope, and bandwidth for adults and neonates, suggesting adult-like cochlear filtering prior to term birth. This finding is in agreement with previous work from our laboratory reporting adult-like DPOAE suppression tuning curves in term-born neonates [Abdala et al., Hear. Res. (1996)].

Acoustic Stimulation↗
PubMed1997

Interpretation of distortion product otoacoustic emission measurements. I. Two stimulus tones.

The interpretation of common but poorly understood observed characteristics of distortion product emissions is assisted by the development of a simple model. This model essentially includes only saturation of the cochlear amplifier, with emissions arising naturally from the same nonlinear processes which cause the saturation. The model provides useful physical explanations of emission behaviour, particularly considered as a function of the stimulus intensities of the two primaries, i.e., behavior with fixed stimulus frequencies. It is assumed that emission generation consists of two main components which are always present in the total emission, but which most often have approximately opposite, i.e., canceling, phases. One component arises in a small region centered about the peak of the emission generation function, while the other arises from the region basal to this peak. At low stimulus levels with normal cochlear amplifier operation, the peak of the emission generation function is sharp, so the emission from the peak region dominates the total emission. This "peak" emission has typically been characterized as the "active" emission. At high stimulus levels where saturation is important, or at all levels when the gain of the cochlear amplifier is reduced, the summed "basal" component dominates the total emission. The characteristics of this basal emission are similar to, and continuous with, the characteristics of the truly "passive" emission, i.e., the emission observed when the cochlear amplifier gain is identically zero. Under circumstances when the emissions from the peak and basal components are approximately equal, there is seen a sharp "notch" characteristic of phase cancellation. The simple model produces emission distributions as a function of independent variation of the two stimulus amplitudes which are in good agreement with observation. It is shown that the furosemide assay provides a good estimate of cochlear amplifier gain when a correction factor of about 10 dB is added. However, when using two stimulus tones, neither absolute emission amplitudes, or emission input-output functions, or the furosemide assay can adequately distinguish between cases of moderate versus poor cochlear amplifier dysfunction when the cochlear amplifier gains are in the range from about half normal to zero.

Acoustic Stimulation↗
PubMed2003

Suppression and enhancement of distortion-product otoacoustic emissions by interference tones above f(2). II. Findings in humans.

Distortion-product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) suppression tuning curves (STCs) can be obtained in a variety of laboratory animals and humans by sweeping the frequencies and levels of a third tone (f(3)) around a set of f(1) and f(2) primaries. In small laboratory animals, it was previously observed that, when the suppressor tone (f(3)) is above f(2), substantial suppression and or enhancement (suppression/enhancement) could be obtained. In the present study, it was of interest to determine if similar suppression/enhancement phenomena could be observed in humans and to what extent this might influence the interpretation of STC results reported in the literature. To this end, STCs were measured for DPOAEs at 2f(1)-f(2) and 2f(2)-f(1) in human subjects at geometric-mean frequencies (GM) of 1, 2, 3, and 4 kHz, and primary-tone equilevels of 80/80 and 75/75 dB SPL and unequal levels of 65/55 dB SPL. Overall, STC parameters were found to be comparable to those reported in the literature. For the 2f(1)-f(2) DPOAE, STC tip frequencies tuned to the region of the primaries, and tip frequencies were slightly influenced by primary-tone level. STC tip thresholds were typically within 10 dB of the level of L(2), and Q(10dB) values ranged from 1.0 to 2.5, which was consistent with the higher-level primaries employed. The 2f(1)-f(2) DPOAE showed consistent regions of suppression that were approximately an octave above the GM for the 1-kHz, 65/55-dB SPL condition. The 2f(2)-f(1) DPOAE tuned to its characteristic place above f(2) and showed reliable enhancement above the STC tip region for the 1-kHz, 75/75-dB SPL primaries. Overall, the results clearly revealed that human ears also display suppression/enhancement phenomena when f(3) reaches frequencies considerably above f(2). If suppression/enhancement phenomena reflect secondary DPOAE sources, then these sources are present in the ear-canal signal from humans as well as small laboratory animals.

Acoustic Stimulation↗
PubMed2002

DPOAE level shifts and ABR threshold shifts compared to detailed analysis of histopathological damage from noise.

A detailed comparison of 2f(1)-f(2) distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) level shifts (LS) and auditory brainstem response (ABR) threshold shifts with noise-induced histopathology was conducted in chinchillas. DPOAE levels (i.e., L(1) and L(2)) at f(1) and f(2), respectively, ranged from 55-75 dB sound pressure level (SPL), with f(2)/f(1)=1.23, 6 points/octave, f(2)=0.41-20 kHz, and ABR thresholds at 0.5-20 kHz, 2 points/octave, were determined pre-exposure. The exposure was a 108 dB SPL octave band of noise centered at 4 kHz (1-1.75 h, n=6) or 80-86 dB SPL (24 h, n=5). DPOAE LSs (magnitude pre- minus post-exposure) and ABR threshold shifts (TS) were determined at 0 days and up to 28 days post-exposure. The cochleae were fixed, embedded in plastic and dissected into flat preparations. The length of the organ of Corti (OC) was measured; missing inner (IHC) and outer (OHC) hair cells counted; stereocilia damage rated; and regions of OC and nerve-fiber loss determined. Cytocochleograms were made showing functional loss and structural damage with the LS and TS overlaid. Some unexpected results were obtained. First, the best correlation of LS with histopathology required plotting the DPOAE data at f(1) with respect to the chinchilla-place map. The best correlation of TS was with IHC and nerve-fiber loss. Second, wide regions of up to 10% scattered OHC loss in the apical half of the OC showed little or no LS. Third, with the 108 dB SPL noise, there was 20-40 dB of recovery for DPOAEs at mid-high frequencies (3-10 kHz) in eight of 12 cochleae where there was 70-100% OHC loss in the basal half of the OC. The largest recovery at mid-high frequencies occurred in regions where the OC was entirely missing. Fourth, with the 80-86 dB SPL noise, there was no LS at small focal lesions (100% loss of OHCs over 0.4 mm) when the frequency place of either f(1) or f(2) was within the lesion but not both. There was no correlation of LS with OHC stereocilia loss, fusion or disarray. These results suggest that, after noise exposure, DPOAEs at mid-high frequencies can originate from or be augmented by generators located at someplace other than the frequency place of f(2), possibly the basal 20% of the OC when this region is intact. Also, noise-induced DPOAE LSs seemed to reflect differing mechanisms for temporary and permanent hearing loss.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Distortion product otoacoustic emission test performance when both 2f1-f2 and 2f2-f1 are used to predict auditory status.

The objective of this study was to determine whether distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) test performance, defined as its ability to distinguish normal-hearing ears from those with hearing loss, can be improved by examining response and noise amplitudes at 2 f1-f2 and 2f2-f1 simultaneously. In addition, there was interest in knowing whether measurements at both DPs and for several primary frequency pairs can be used in a multivariate analysis to further optimize test performance. DPOAE and noise amplitudes were measured at 2f1-f2 and 2 f2-f1 for 12 primary levels (L2 from 10 to 65 dB SPL in 5-dB steps) and 9 pairs of primary frequencies (0.5 to 8 kHz in 1/2-octave steps). All data were collected in a sound-treated room from 70 subjects with normal hearing and 80 subjects with hearing loss. Subjects had normal middle-ear function at the time of the DPOAE test, based on standard tympanometric measurements. Measurement-based stopping rules were used such that the test terminated when the noise floor around the 2 f1-f2 DP was < or = -30 dB SPL or after 32 s of artifact-free averaging, whichever occurred first. Data were analyzed using clinical decision theory in which relative operating characteristics (ROC) curves were constructed and areas under the ROC curves were estimated. In addition, test performance was assessed by selecting the criterion value that resulted in a sensitivity of 90% and determining the specificity at that criterion value. Data were analyzed using traditional univariate comparisons, in which predictions about auditory status were based only on data obtained when f2 = audiometric frequency. In addition, multivariate analysis techniques were used to determine whether test performance can be optimized by using many variables to predict auditory status. As expected, DPOAEs were larger for 2f1-f2 compared to 2 f2-f1 in subjects with normal hearing. However, noise amplitudes were smaller for 2f2-f1, but this effect was restricted to the lowest f2 frequencies. A comparison of signal-to-noise ratios (SNR) within normal-hearing ears showed that the 2f1-f2 DP was more frequently characterized by larger SNRs compared to 2f2-f1. However, there were several subjects in whom 2f2-f1 produced a larger SNR. ROC curve areas and specificities for a fixed sensitivity increased only slightly when data from both DPs were used to predict auditory status. Multivariate analyses, in which the inputs included both DPs for several primary frequency pairs surrounding each audiometric frequency, produced the highest areas and specificities. Thus, DPOAE test performance was improved slightly by examining data at two DP frequencies simultaneously. This improvement was achieved at no additional cost in terms of test time. When measurements at both DPs were combined with data obtained for several primary frequency pairs and then analyzed in a multivariate context, the best test performance was achieved. Excellent test performance (ROC) curve areas >0.95% and specificities >92% at all frequencies, including 500 Hz, were achieved for these conditions. Although the results described should be validated on an independent set of data, they suggest that the accuracy with which DPOAE measurements identify auditory status can be improved with multivariate analyses and measurements at multiple DPs.

Audiometry↗