Relationship between behavioral and stimulus frequency otoacoustic emissions delay-based tuning estimates

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

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose: The phase delay of stimulus frequency otoacoustic emissions (SFOAEs) has been proposed as a noninvasive, objective, and fast source for estimating cochlear mechanical tuning. However, the implementation of SFOAEs clinically has been thwarted by the gaps in understanding of the stability of SFOAE delay-based tuning estimates and their relationship to behavioral measures of tuning. Therefore, the goals of this study were (a) to investigate the relationship between delay-based tuning estimates from SFOAEs and simultaneously masked psychophysical tuning curves (PTCs) and (b) to assess the across-and within-session repeatability of tuning estimates from behavioral and OAE measures. Method: Three sets of behavioral and OAE measurements were collected in 24 normal-hearing, young adults for two probe frequencies, 1 and 4 kHz. For each participant, delay-based tuning estimates were derived from the phase gradient of SFOAEs. SFOAE-based and behavioral estimates of tuning obtained using the fast-swept PTC paradigm were compared within and across sessions. Results: In general, tuning estimates were sharper at 4 kHz compared to 1 kHz for both PTCs and SFOAEs. Statistical analyses revealed a significant correlation between SFOAE delay-based tuning and PTCs at 4 kHz, but not 1 kHz. Lastly, SFOAE delay-based tuning estimates showed better intra-and intersession repeatability compared to PTCs. Conclusions: SFOAE phase-gradient delays reflect aspects of cochlear mechanical tuning, in that a frequency dependence similar to that of basilar membrane tuning was observed. Furthermore, the significant correlation with PTCs at 4 kHz and the high repeatability of SFOAE-based tuning measures offer promise of an objective, nonbehavioral assay of tuning in human ears.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1958-1968
Number of pages11
JournalJournal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research
Volume63
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2020

Funding

Portions of this work were presented at the 44th Annual Scientific and Technology Conference of the American Auditory Society in Scottsdale, Arizona, and the AudiologyNow! 2017 Conference in Indianapolis, Indiana. Funding for this project was provided by National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders Grant F32 DC017352 (awarded to U. S. W.), Knowles Hearing Center at Northwestern University and the Isti-tuto Nazionale Assicurazione Infortuni sul Lavoro Grant BRiC 2016 ID17/2016. U. S. W., S. B., and S. D. designed the study. J. B. K. collected the data. U. S. W. and J. B. K. analyzed the data. U. S. W., J. B. K., S. B., A. M., R. S., and S. D. interpreted the results. U. S. W. drafted the article. U. S. W., J. B. K., S. B., A. M., R. S., and S. D. edited the article.

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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

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