Otoacoustic Emissions Flashcards
Who first demonstrated OAEs in an experimental context?
British physicist David Kemp, in 1978
What are OAEs?
the sounds measured in the ear canal that represent the movement of the OHCs in the cochlea
The energy produced by the movement of the OHCs serves as a what?
a cochlear amplifier, which contributes to better hearing (sharper fx resolution)
What do OAEs allow AuDs to do clinically?
- early detection of inner ear abnormalities of various etiologies, including non-pathologic ones like noise exposure and aging
- can sometimes prevent serious consequences of hearing loss
OAEs can be described as … because?
pre-neural; their activity occurs before the very first synapse in the afferent auditory system
How do OAEs present in individuals with no auditory nerves, severed nerves, or improper neurotransmitters?
- they can be normal
What are the 4 types of OAEs?
- spontaneous
- transient
- distortion product
- sustained frequency
Spontaneous OAEs
sounds emitting from the OHCs without an acoustic stimulus
Transient (evoked) OAEs
- sounds emitted from the OHCs in response to a stimulus of very short/brief duration (usually clicks, sometimes tone bursts)
- presented at 80 dB SPL
- generally recorded at 500-4000 Hz
Distortion product OAEs
- sounds emitted from the OHCs in response to 2 simultaneous pure tones (f1, f2) of different frequencies
- stimuli presented at 55 and 65 dB SPL
- typically recorded from 500-8000 Hz, sometimes even higher
Sustained frequency OAEs
sounds emitted from the OHCs in response to a continuous tone
Which types of OAEs are mostly used in clinical settings?
- distortion product
- transient evoked
In what settings are sustained frequency OAEs typically used?
for research
What types of OAEs can be measured clinically with FDA-approved equipment?
- distortion product
- transient evoked
What type of HL can transient OAEs detect?
- mild HL
- faster to administer, so it’s popular for screening babies
What type of HL can distortion product OAEs detect?
moderate or higher HL
What are 2 other conditions that can be indicated by absent OAEs in the lower frequencies?
- middle ear infections
- Ménière’s disease
What are some advantages of OAEs?
- don’t require behavioral responses, so it’s good for babies, infants, and younglings
- good for nontraditional testing due to factors like language, cognitive function, motivation, and attention
What is the advantage of OAEs involving specificity?
- OAEs are ear specific, unlike free-field behavioral responses
Do OAEs require a sound-treated room?
NO, and they’re portable too! An averaging process reduces background noise, and the ear is tightly sealed with a probe.
OAEs are also advantageous for using with kids because?
they are super quick; about 30-45 seconds per ear is common. Also pretty inexpensive as a screening tool!
What are some disadvantages of OAEs?
- susceptible to noise; more sound = more difficult to record
- ME status is important!! any dysfunction in the ME can stifle the OAE response
- we only get info about the hair cells, nothing else
Smaller ear canals result in a what?
higher effective SPL
Recording Parameters for Spontaneous OAEs
- measured in narrow frequency bands (< 30 Hz bandwidth)
- no stimulus needed
- multiple recordings should be made for replicability and to distinguish responses from the noise floor
- usually span the 500-7000 Hz range
Recording Parameters for Transient OAEs
- clicks are the most common stimuli, but can be tone bursts too
- typically presented at 80-85 dB SPL
- stimulation rate is <60 stimuli/second
- generally recorded over approximately 20 msec
Recording Parameters for Distortion Product OAEs
- stimuli = 2 pure tones at 2 frequencies (f1, f2; f2>f1) and 2 intensities (L1, L2)
- relationship between L1L2 and f1f2 dictates the frequency response
- for optimal response, set intensities so that L1 equals or exceeds L2
- intensity typically set at 65/55 dB SPL L1/L2
What are the prereqs for obtaining OAEs?
- unobstructed ear canal
- proper seal with the probe
- optimal positioning of the probe
- no ME pathology
- quiet, still patient
- relatively quiet recording environment