Cochlear tuning estimates from level ratio functions of distortion product otoacoustic emissions

Uzma Shaheen Wilson*, Jenna Browning-Kamins, Alessandra Spada Durante, Sriram Boothalingam, Arturo Moleti, Renata Sisto, Sumitrajit Dhar

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective: Distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) levels plotted as a function of stimulus frequency ratio demonstrate a bandpass shape. This bandpass shape is narrower at higher frequencies compared to lower frequencies and thus has been thought to be related to cochlear mechanical tuning. Design: However, the frequency- and level-dependence of these functions above 8 kHz is largely unknown. Furthermore, how tuning estimates from these functions are related to behavioural tuning is not fully understood. Study Sample: From experiment 1, we report DPOAE level ratio functions (LRF) from seven normal-hearing, young-adults for f2 = 0.75–16 kHz and two stimulus levels of 62/52 and 52/37 dB FPL. We found that LRFs became narrower as a function of increasing frequency and decreasing level. Results: Tuning estimates from these functions increased as expected from 1-8 kHz. In experiment 2, we compared tuning estimates from DPOAE LRF to behavioural tuning in 24 normal-hearing, young adults for 1 and 4 kHz and found that behavioural tuning generally predicted DPOAE LRF estimated tuning. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that DPOAE LRFs generally reflect the tuning profile consistent with basilar membrane, neural, and behavioural tuning. However, further investigations are warranted to fully determine the use of DPOAE LRF as a clinical measure of cochlear tuning.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)890-899
Number of pages10
JournalInternational Journal of Audiology
Volume60
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - 2021

Keywords

  • Cochlear tuning
  • behavioural tuning
  • distortion product otoacoustic emissions
  • level ratio function

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Language and Linguistics
  • Linguistics and Language
  • Speech and Hearing

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Cochlear tuning estimates from level ratio functions of distortion product otoacoustic emissions'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this