Cochlear tuning estimates from level ratio functions of distortion product otoacoustic emissions.
Uzma Shaheen Wilson, Jenna Browning-Kamins, Alessandra Spada Durante and 4 others
PMID 33612052WHAT IT FOUND
Distortion product otoacoustic emissions showed broader cochlear tuning than behavioral tests.
Emission-based tuning estimates did not significantly correlate with behavioral tuning at specific frequencies, limiting their current use for clinical diagnosis.
Key findings
01Tuning estimates derived from distortion product otoacoustic emissions were significantly broader (less sharp) than those obtained from psychophysical tuning curves at both 1 kHz and 4 kHz.
02While pooled data showed a modest correlation between emission-based and behavioral tuning, there was no significant correlation when analyzed separately for 1 kHz or 4 kHz.
03Emission-based tuning estimates generally became sharper as frequency increased from 1 to 8 kHz, consistent with known cochlear mechanical properties.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The sample consisted only of young adults with normal hearing, so findings may not apply to older adults or those with hearing loss. The study did not assess high-frequency hearing loss, which might influence tuning estimates at higher frequencies. Statistical analyses were limited in Experiment 1 due to small sample size and unequal observations. The difference in stimulus levels between the objective (fixed level) and behavioral (near-threshold) measures may explain the discrepancy in tuning sharpness.
Declared interests
The study was supported by NIH grants. No other conflicts of interest were reported.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the significant correlation when data is pooled across frequencies as evidence that DPOAEs can predict behavioral tuning for a specific patient at a specific frequency. The correlation was not significant when analyzed separately for 1 kHz or 4 kHz, meaning the measure currently lacks the specificity needed for clinical diagnosis.