Rising-frequency chirps and earphones with an extended high-frequency response enhance the post-auricular muscle response

Int J Audiol. 2005 Nov;44(11):631-6. doi: 10.1080/14992020500266613.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine whether rising-frequency chirps presented via earphones with an extended high-frequency response would optimize the post-auricular muscle response (PAMR). The PAMR was recorded in adults using three different stimuli (a click, a rising-frequency chirp, and a truncated speech stimulus, /t/). Conventional ER-3A insert earphones were compared to ER-2 insert earphones to determine whether the PAMR is enhanced by the ER-2's extended highfrequency response. There were significant stimulus and earphone effects on PAMR amplitudes. The PAMR was largest for the chirp stimulus and the ER-2 earphones. The poorest responses were obtained using the /t/ stimulus and conventional ER-3A earphones. The results support previous ABR studies that have demonstrated a significant advantage of chirps over clicks for evoked response audiometry, and indicate that the PAMR is enhanced by inclusion of additional high-frequency stimulus energy.

MeSH terms

  • Acoustic Stimulation / methods
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Audiometry, Pure-Tone
  • Auditory Threshold / physiology*
  • Electromyography / methods*
  • Evoked Potentials, Auditory / physiology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Muscle, Skeletal / physiology*
  • Scalp