Distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) input/output functions and the influence of the second DPOAE source

J Acoust Soc Am. 2004 Oct;116(4 Pt 1):2199-212. doi: 10.1121/1.1791719.

Abstract

Distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) at 2f1-f2 (f2/f1 = 1.2) have two components from different cochlear sources, i.e., a distortion component generated near f2 and a reflection component from the characteristic site of fDP. The interaction of the two sources may negatively affect the DPOAE input/output (I/O) functions that are used to predict either auditory thresholds or the compression characteristics of the basilar membrane. This study investigates the influence of the reflection component on DPOAE I/O functions in a frequency range for f2 from 1500 to 4500 Hz in steps of 18 Hz. A time windowing procedure is used to separate the components from the two DPOAE sources. With decreasing stimulus level, the relative contribution of the reflection component increases. I/O functions from the separated distortion component (DCOAE I/O functions) only show smooth changes in shape and slope with frequency, while "standard" DPOAE I/O functions show rapid changes between adjacent frequencies, indicating a strong influence from the interference with the second DPOAE source. A reduced variability for adjacent frequencies can be seen as well for prediction of hearing thresholds, when using DCOAE instead of DPOAE I/O functions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acoustic Impedance Tests
  • Adult
  • Auditory Threshold*
  • Cochlea / physiology*
  • Hearing Loss, High-Frequency / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Otoacoustic Emissions, Spontaneous / physiology*
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted
  • Time Factors