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Hunter LL, Blankenship CM, Shinn-Cunningham B, Hood L, Zadeh LM, Moore DR. Brainstem auditory physiology in children with listening difficulties . Hear Res 2023; 429:108705. [PMID: 36709582 PMCID: PMC10152893 DOI: 10.1016/j.heares.2023.108705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2022] [Revised: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Children who have listening difficulties (LiD) despite having normal audiometry are often diagnosed as having an auditory processing disorder. A lack of evidence regarding involvement of specific auditory mechanisms has limited development of effective treatments for these children. Here, we examined electrophysiologic evidence for brainstem pathway mechanisms in children with and without defined LiD. We undertook a prospective controlled study of 132 children aged 6-14 years with normal pure tone audiometry, grouped into LiD (n = 63) or Typically Developing (TD; n = 69) based on scores on the Evaluation of Children's Listening and Processing Skills (ECLiPS), a validated caregiver report. The groups were matched on age at test, sex, race, and ethnicity. Neither group had diagnoses of major neurologic disorder, intellectual disability, or brain injuries. Both groups received a test battery including a measure of receptive speech perception against distractor speech, Listening in Spatialized Noise - Sentences (LiSN-S), along with multiple neurophysiologic measures that tap afferent and efferent auditory subcortical pathways. Group analysis showed that participants with LiD performed significantly poorer on all subtests of the LiSN-S. The LiD group had significantly greater wideband middle ear muscle reflex (MEMR) growth functions in the left ear, and shorter Wave III and Wave V latencies in auditory brainstem responses (ABR). Across individual participants, shorter latency ABR Wave V correlated significantly with poorer parent report of LiD (ECLiPS composite). Greater MEMR growth functions also correlated with poorer ECLiPS scores and reduced LiSN-S talker advantage. The LiD and TD groups had equivalent summating potentials, compound action potentials, envelope-following responses, and binaurally activated medial olivocochlear reflexes. In conclusion, there was no evidence for auditory synaptopathy for LiD. Evidence for brainstem differences in the LiD group was interpreted as increased central gain, with shorter ABR Wave III and V latencies and steeper MEMR growth curves. These differences were related to poorer parent report and speech perception in competing speech ability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa L Hunter
- Communication Sciences Research Center, Research in Patient Services, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Research in Patient Services, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; College of Medicine, Otolaryngology and College of Allied Health Sciences, Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; College of Allied Health Sciences, Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.
| | - Chelsea M Blankenship
- Communication Sciences Research Center, Research in Patient Services, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Research in Patient Services, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | | | - Linda Hood
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Lina Motlagh Zadeh
- Communication Sciences Research Center, Research in Patient Services, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Research in Patient Services, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - David R Moore
- Communication Sciences Research Center, Research in Patient Services, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Research in Patient Services, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; College of Medicine, Otolaryngology and College of Allied Health Sciences, Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Manchester Centre for Audiology and Deafness, University of Manchester, U.K
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Mertes IB, Stutz AL. Lack of correlation between medial olivocochlear reflex strength and sentence recognition in noise. Int J Audiol 2023; 62:110-117. [PMID: 35195043 DOI: 10.1080/14992027.2022.2033857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The medial olivocochlear (MOC) reflex provides unmasking of sounds in noise, but its contribution to speech-in-noise perception remains unclear due to conflicting results. This study determined associations between MOC reflex strength and sentence recognition in noise in individuals with normal hearing. DESIGN MOC reflex strength was assessed using contralateral inhibition of transient-evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAEs). Scores on the AzBio sentence task were quantified at three signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs). Additionally, slope and threshold of the psychometric function were computed. Associations between MOC reflex strength and speech-in-noise outcomes were assessed using Spearman rank correlations. STUDY SAMPLE Nineteen young adults with normal hearing participated, with data from 17 individuals (mean age = 21.8 years) included in the analysis. RESULTS Contralateral noise significantly decreased the amplitude of TEOAEs. A range of contralateral inhibition values was exhibited across participants. Scores increased significantly with increasing SNR. Contrary to hypotheses, there were no significant correlations between MOC reflex strength and score, nor were there any significant correlations between MOC reflex strength and measures of the psychometric function. CONCLUSIONS Results found no significant monotonic relationship between MOC reflex strength and sentence recognition in noise. Future work is needed to determine the functional role of the MOC reflex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian B Mertes
- Department of Speech and Hearing Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA
| | - Abigail L Stutz
- Department of Speech and Hearing Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA
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Jamos AM, Chertoff ME, Kaf WA, Ferraro JA. Medial Olivocochlear Reflex Effect on Cochlear Response in Humans: Elicitor Side and Level. J Am Acad Audiol 2021; 32:366-373. [PMID: 34731904 DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1728649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Understanding the functional differences between crossed and uncrossed medial olivocochlear (MOC) neurons has been of interest to researchers for decades. Previous reports revealed conflicting results about which MOC pathway, crossed or uncrossed, is stronger in humans. Both crossed and uncrossed MOC neurons synapse at the base of the outer hair cells (OHCs) in each ear. OHCs generate the cochlear microphonic, which is a major contributor to the cochlear response (CR) PURPOSE: The current study investigated the effects of eliciting the crossed and uncrossed MOC reflex (MOCR) on CR in humans with three levels of noise. RESEARCH DESIGN Normal-hearing, young adults (n = 16) participated in this study. The CR was recorded using 500 Hz tone-burst stimuli presented at 80 dB nHL. To examine the crossed and uncrossed MOCR, CR was recorded without and with continuous ipsilateral or contralateral broadband noise (BBN) at three levels (40, 50, and 60 dB SPL). DATA ANALYSIS Analysis of the CR was completed using the amplitude of the response extracted using fast Fourier transform. Statistical analysis was completed using repeated measures analysis of variance and post-hoc analysis. RESULTS Compared with baseline, the presentation of BBN, specifically contralaterally, resulted in CR enhancement with no significant difference as a function of the three BBN levels. Greater enhancement of the CR amplitude was observed with contralateral than ipsilateral BBN elicitor. CONCLUSIONS The current findings suggest that a contralateral elicitor of the uncrossed MOC pathway results in a larger CR amplitude enhancement compared with an ipsilateral elicitor of the crossed MOC pathway, regardless of the elicitor level. Eliciting the MOCR appears to modulate the OHCs function. Furthermore, assessing the MOCR with the 500 Hz CR with BBN elicitors at moderate levels should separate its effects (i.e., increase response amplitude) from those associated with the middle ear muscle reflex (i.e., reduce response amplitude).
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdullah M Jamos
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Missouri State University, Springfield, Missouri
| | - Mark E Chertoff
- Department of Hearing and Speech, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
| | - Wafaa A Kaf
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Missouri State University, Springfield, Missouri
| | - John A Ferraro
- Department of Hearing and Speech, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
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Jennings SG. The role of the medial olivocochlear reflex in psychophysical masking and intensity resolution in humans: a review. J Neurophysiol 2021; 125:2279-2308. [PMID: 33909513 PMCID: PMC8285664 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00672.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Revised: 03/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/02/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
This review addresses the putative role of the medial olivocochlear (MOC) reflex in psychophysical masking and intensity resolution in humans. A framework for interpreting psychophysical results in terms of the expected influence of the MOC reflex is introduced. This framework is used to review the effects of a precursor or contralateral acoustic stimulation on 1) simultaneous masking of brief tones, 2) behavioral estimates of cochlear gain and frequency resolution in forward masking, 3) the buildup and decay of forward masking, and 4) measures of intensity resolution. Support, or lack thereof, for a role of the MOC reflex in psychophysical perception is discussed in terms of studies on estimates of MOC strength from otoacoustic emissions and the effects of resection of the olivocochlear bundle in patients with vestibular neurectomy. Novel, innovative approaches are needed to resolve the dissatisfying conclusion that current results are unable to definitively confirm or refute the role of the MOC reflex in masking and intensity resolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Skyler G Jennings
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
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Boothalingam S, Goodman SS. Click evoked middle ear muscle reflex: Spectral and temporal aspects. THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2021; 149:2628. [PMID: 33940882 DOI: 10.1121/10.0004217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2020] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
This study describes a time series-based method of middle ear muscle reflex (MEMR) detection using bilateral clicks. Although many methods can detect changes in the otoacoustic emissions evoking stimulus to monitor the MEMR, they do not discriminate between true MEMR-mediated vs artifactual changes in the stimulus. We measured MEMR in 20 young clinically normal hearing individuals using 1-s-long click trains presented at six levels (65 to 95 dB peak-to-peak sound pressure level in 6 dB steps). Changes in the stimulus levels over the 1 s period were well-approximated by two-term exponential functions. The magnitude of ear canal pressure changes due to MEMR increased monotonically as a function of click level but non-monotonically with frequency when separated into 1/3 octave wide bands between 1 and 3.2 kHz. MEMR thresholds estimated using this method were lower than that obtained from a clinical tympanometer in ∼94% of the participants. A time series-based method, along with statistical tests, may provide additional confidence in detecting the MEMR. MEMR effects were smallest at 2 kHz, between 1 and 3.2 kHz, which may provide avenues for minimizing the MEMR influence while measuring other responses (e.g., the medial olivocochlear reflex).
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Affiliation(s)
- Sriram Boothalingam
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53705, USA
| | - Shawn S Goodman
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52252, USA
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Lewis JD. Efferent-induced shifts in synchronized-spontaneous-otoacoustic-emission magnitude and frequency. THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2020; 148:3258. [PMID: 33261385 DOI: 10.1121/10.0002643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2020] [Accepted: 10/25/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Synchronized-spontaneous otoacoustic emissions (SSOAEs) present as slow-decaying emission energy that persists after the transient-evoked otoacoustic emission (TEOAE). SSOAEs possess high amplitudes and signal-to-noise ratios, making them potentially ideal candidates to assay the medial-olivocochlear reflex (MOCR). The current work quantified MOCR-induced changes to SSOAEs over a 36-dB stimulus level range and compared MOCR effects between TEOAE- and SSOAE-based assays. Otoacoustic emissions were evoked using band limited clicks from 52 to 88 dB peak sound pressure level (pSPL) with and without contralateral-acoustic stimulation (CAS) in 25 normal-hearing, female adults. The CAS was 50-dB sound pressure level (SPL) broadband noise and served to activate the MOCR. The number of SSOAEs increased with the stimulus level through approximately 70 dB pSPL. The presentation of CAS resulted in fewer SSOAEs. SSOAEs exhibited compressive growth and approached saturation for stimulus levels of 70 dB pSPL. The primary effects of CAS were a reduction in the SSOAE magnitude and an upward shift in the SSOAE frequency. These changes were not strongly affected by the stimulus level. Time-domain analysis of the SSOAE revealed an increase in the CAS-induced magnitude shift during the decay portion of the SSOAE. Compared to CAS-induced TEOAE magnitude shifts, SSOAE magnitude shifts were typically 2-3 dB larger. Findings support SSOAEs as a means to assay the MOCR.
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Affiliation(s)
- James D Lewis
- Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 578 South Stadium Hall, Knoxville, Tennessee, 37996, USA
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Boothalingam S, Allan C, Allen P, Purcell DW. The Medial Olivocochlear Reflex Is Unlikely to Play a Role in Listening Difficulties in Children. Trends Hear 2020; 23:2331216519870942. [PMID: 31558110 PMCID: PMC6767729 DOI: 10.1177/2331216519870942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The medial olivocochlear reflex (MOCR) has been implicated in several auditory processes. The putative role of the MOCR in improving speech perception in noise is particularly relevant for children who complain of listening difficulties (LiD). The hypothesis that the MOCR may be impaired in individuals with LiD or auditory processing disorder has led to several investigations but without consensus. In two related studies, we compared the MOCR functioning of children with LiD and typically developing (TD) children in the same age range (7-17 years). In Study 1, we investigated ipsilateral, contralateral, and bilateral MOCR using forward-masked click-evoked otoacoustic emissions (CEOAEs; n = 17 TD, 17 LiD). In Study 2, we employed three OAE types: CEOAEs (n = 16 TD, 21 LiD), stimulus frequency OAEs (n = 21 TD, 30 LiD), and distortion product OAEs (n = 17 TD, 22 LiD) in a contralateral noise paradigm. Results from both studies suggest that the MOCR functioning is not significantly different between the two groups. Some likely reasons for differences in findings among published studies could stem from the lack of strict data quality measures (e.g., high signal-to-noise ratio, control for the middle ear muscle reflex) that were enforced in the present study. The inherent variability of the MOCR, the subpar reliability of current MOCR methods, and the heterogeneity in auditory processing deficits that underlie auditory processing disorder make detecting clinically relevant differences in MOCR function impractical using current methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sriram Boothalingam
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA.,Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Chris Allan
- School of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Western University, London, ON, Canada.,National Centre for Audiology, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Prudence Allen
- School of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Western University, London, ON, Canada.,National Centre for Audiology, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - David W Purcell
- School of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Western University, London, ON, Canada.,National Centre for Audiology, Western University, London, ON, Canada
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Lewis JD, Mashburn A, Lee D. Jittering stimulus onset attenuates short-latency, synchronized-spontaneous otoacoustic emission energy. THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2020; 147:1504. [PMID: 32237807 DOI: 10.1121/10.0000848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2019] [Accepted: 02/14/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Synchronized-spontaneous otoacoustic emissions (SSOAEs) are slow-decaying otoacoustic emissions (OAEs) that persist up to several hundred milliseconds following presentation of a transient stimulus. If the inter-stimulus interval is sufficiently short, SSOAEs will contaminate the stimulus window of the adjacent epoch. In medial-olivocochlear reflex (MOCR) assays, SSOAE contamination can present as a change in the stimulus between quiet and noise conditions, since SSOAEs are sensitive to MOCR activation. Traditionally, a change in the stimulus between MOCR conditions implicates acoustic reflex activation by the contralateral noise; however, this interpretation is potentially confounded by SSOAEs. This study examined the utility of jittering stimulus onset to desynchronize and cancel short-latency SSOAE energy. Transient-evoked (TE) OAEs and SSOAEs were measured from 39 subjects in contralateral-quiet and -noise conditions. Clicks were presented at fixed and quasi-random intervals (by introducing up to 8 ms of jitter). For the fixed-interval condition, spectral differences in the stimulus window between quiet and noise conditions mirrored those in the SSOAE analysis window, consistent with SSOAE contamination. In contrast, spectral differences stemming from SSOAEs were attenuated and/or absent in the stimulus window for the jitter conditions. The use of jitter did not have a statistically significant effect on either TEOAE level or the estimated MOCR.
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Affiliation(s)
- James D Lewis
- Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, USA
| | - Amy Mashburn
- Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, USA
| | - Donguk Lee
- Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, USA
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Mertes IB. Medial olivocochlear reflex effects on synchronized spontaneous otoacoustic emissions. THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2020; 147:EL235. [PMID: 32237820 DOI: 10.1121/10.0000886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
This study characterized medial olivocochlear (MOC) reflex activity on synchronized spontaneous otoacoustic emissions (SSOAEs) as compared to transient-evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAEs) in normal-hearing adults. Using two time windows, changes in TEOAE and SSOAE magnitude and phase due to a MOC reflex elicitor were quantified from 1 to 4 kHz. In lower frequency bands, changes in TEOAE and SSOAE magnitude were significantly correlated and were significantly larger for SSOAEs. Changes in TEOAE and SSOAE phase were not significantly different, nor were they significantly correlated. The larger effects on SSOAE magnitude may improve the sensitivity for detecting the MOC reflex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian B Mertes
- Department of Speech and Hearing Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, Illinois 61820,
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Li A, Gao G, Wang N, Fu T, Zhu F, Zhang X, Liu J. The characteristic of otoacoustic emissions in full-term neonates according to ABO blood groups. Braz J Otorhinolaryngol 2019; 86:774-780. [PMID: 31875839 PMCID: PMC9422354 DOI: 10.1016/j.bjorl.2019.10.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2019] [Revised: 09/29/2019] [Accepted: 10/27/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Previous research has suggested that individuals with different blood groups show varied incidences of noise-induced hearing loss. The reduced otoacoustic emissions amplitudes indicate the higher possibilities of outer hair cell damage for noise exposure. Objective The objective is to analyze the characteristics of otoacoustic emissions, including the occurrence of spontaneous otoacoustic emission and the amplitudes of distortion product otoacoustic emission at certain frequencies in full term neonates with different ABO blood groups. Methods A total of 80 selected full-term female neonates who passed the initial newborn hearing screen were enrolled into the study, with equal number of participants in four ABO blood groups (Blood Group A, Blood Group B, Blood Group AB, Blood Group O). Measurements of spontaneous otoacoustic emission and distortion product otoacoustic emission were performed in both ears for all participants. Results (1) The blood group O participants showed significantly fewer spontaneous otoacoustic emission occurrences than the other three blood groups (A = 70%, B = 80%, AB = 67%, O = 25%, p < 0.05). (2) The blood group O participants showed lower DPOAE amplitudes at 1257 Hz (M = 4.55 dB, SD = 8.36), 1587 Hz (M = 11.60 dB, SD = 6.57), 3174 Hz (M = 7.25 dB, SD = 5.99), 5042 Hz (M = 13.60, SD = 6.70) than participants with the other three blood groups in left ears (p < 0.05). In right ears, the blood group O participants showed reduced amplitudes at 1257 Hz (M = 6.55 dB, SD = 8.36), 1587 Hz (M = 13.60 dB, SD = 6.57), 3174 Hz (M = 7.65 dB, SD = 6.43), 5042 Hz (M = 13.65 dB, SD = 6.50) than participants from non-O blood groups (p < 0.05). Conclusion Female individuals with blood group O have lower otoacoustic emissions values than individuals with the other three blood groups. We need to further investigate the possible relationships between ABO blood group and cochlear function, including the potential influences of noise damage on cochlear outer hair cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aifeng Li
- The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Qingdao, China.
| | - Guoqiang Gao
- The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Department of Obstetrics, China
| | - Ningyu Wang
- Capital Medical University, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, China
| | - Tao Fu
- The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Qingdao, China
| | - Fugao Zhu
- The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Qingdao, China
| | - Xiaoheng Zhang
- The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Qingdao, China
| | - Jie Liu
- The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Qingdao, China
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The Effect of Otoacoustic Emission Stimulus Level on the Strength and Detectability of the Medial Olivocochlear Reflex. Ear Hear 2019; 40:1391-1403. [DOI: 10.1097/aud.0000000000000719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Mertes IB. Establishing critical differences in ear-canal stimulus amplitude for detecting middle ear muscle reflex activation during olivocochlear efferent measurements. Int J Audiol 2019; 59:140-147. [DOI: 10.1080/14992027.2019.1673491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ian B. Mertes
- Department of Speech and Hearing Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA
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Mertes IB, Wilbanks EC, Leek MR. Olivocochlear Efferent Activity Is Associated With the Slope of the Psychometric Function of Speech Recognition in Noise. Ear Hear 2019; 39:583-593. [PMID: 29135685 PMCID: PMC5920700 DOI: 10.1097/aud.0000000000000514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The medial olivocochlear (MOC) efferent system can modify cochlear function to improve sound detection in noise, but its role in speech perception in noise is unclear. The purpose of this study was to determine the association between MOC efferent activity and performance on two speech-in-noise tasks at two signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs). It was hypothesized that efferent activity would be more strongly correlated with performance at the more challenging SNR, relative to performance at the less challenging SNR. DESIGN Sixteen adults aged 35 to 73 years participated. Subjects had pure-tone averages ≤25 dB HL and normal middle ear function. High-frequency pure-tone averages were computed across 3000 to 8000 Hz and ranged from 6.3 to 48.8 dB HL. Efferent activity was assessed using contralateral suppression of transient-evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAEs) measured in right ears, and MOC activation was achieved by presenting broadband noise to left ears. Contralateral suppression was expressed as the decibel change in TEOAE magnitude obtained with versus without the presence of the broadband noise. TEOAE responses were also examined for middle ear muscle reflex activation and synchronous spontaneous otoacoustic emissions (SSOAEs). Speech-in-noise perception was assessed using the closed-set coordinate response measure word recognition task and the open-set Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers sentence task. Speech and noise were presented to right ears at two SNRs. Performance on each task was scored as percent correct. Associations between contralateral suppression and speech-in-noise performance were quantified using partial rank correlational analyses, controlling for the variables age and high-frequency pure-tone average. RESULTS One subject was excluded due to probable middle ear muscle reflex activation. Subjects showed a wide range of contralateral suppression values, consistent with previous reports. Three subjects with SSOAEs had similar contralateral suppression results as subjects without SSOAEs. The magnitude of contralateral suppression was not significantly correlated with speech-in-noise performance on either task at a single SNR (p > 0.05), contrary to hypothesis. However, contralateral suppression was significantly correlated with the slope of the psychometric function, computed as the difference between performance levels at the two SNRs divided by 3 (decibel difference between the 2 SNRs) for the coordinate response measure task (partial rs = 0.59; p = 0.04) and for the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers task (partial rs = 0.60; p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS In a group of primarily older adults with normal hearing or mild hearing loss, olivocochlear efferent activity assessed using contralateral suppression of TEOAEs was not associated with speech-in-noise performance at a single SNR. However, auditory efferent activity appears to be associated with the slope of the psychometric function for both a word and sentence recognition task in noise. Results suggest that individuals with stronger MOC efferent activity tend to be more responsive to changes in SNR, where small increases in SNR result in better speech-in-noise performance relative to individuals with weaker MOC efferent activity. Additionally, the results suggest that the slope of the psychometric function may be a more useful metric than performance at a single SNR when examining the relationship between speech recognition in noise and MOC efferent activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian B. Mertes
- Research Service 151, VA Loma Linda Healthcare System, Loma Linda, CA, USA
- Current affiliation: Department of Speech and Hearing Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA
| | - Erin C. Wilbanks
- Research Service 151, VA Loma Linda Healthcare System, Loma Linda, CA, USA
| | - Marjorie R. Leek
- Research Service 151, VA Loma Linda Healthcare System, Loma Linda, CA, USA
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery, Loma Linda University Health, Loma Linda, CA, USA
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Boothalingam S, Kurke J, Dhar S. Click-Evoked Auditory Efferent Activity: Rate and Level Effects. J Assoc Res Otolaryngol 2018; 19:421-434. [PMID: 29736560 DOI: 10.1007/s10162-018-0664-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2017] [Accepted: 03/22/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
There currently are no standardized protocols to evaluate auditory efferent function in humans. Typical tests use broadband noise to activate the efferents, but only test the contralateral efferent pathway, risk activating the middle ear muscle reflex (MEMR), and are laborious for clinical use. In an attempt to develop a clinical test of bilateral auditory efferent function, we have designed a method that uses clicks to evoke efferent activity, obtain click-evoked otoacoustic emissions (CEOAEs), and monitor MEMR. This allows for near-simultaneous estimation of cochlear and efferent function. In the present study, we manipulated click level (60, 70, and 80 dB peak-equivalent sound pressure level [peSPL]) and rate (40, 50, and 62.5 Hz) to identify an optimal rate-level combination that evokes measurable efferent modulation of CEOAEs. Our findings (n = 58) demonstrate that almost all click levels and rates used caused significant inhibition of CEOAEs, with a significant interaction between level and rate effects. Predictably, bilateral activation produced greater inhibition compared to stimulating the efferents only in the ipsilateral or contralateral ear. In examining the click rate-level effects during bilateral activation in greater detail, we observed a 1-dB inhibition of CEOAE level for each 10-dB increase in click level, with rate held constant at 62.5 Hz. Similarly, a 10-Hz increase in rate produced a 0.74-dB reduction in CEOAE level, with click level held constant at 80 dB peSPL. The effect size (Cohen's d) was small for either monaural condition and medium for bilateral, faster-rate, and higher-level conditions. We were also able to reliably extract CEOAEs from efferent eliciting clicks. We conclude that clicks can indeed be profitably employed to simultaneously evaluate cochlear health using CEOAEs as well as their efferent modulation. Furthermore, using bilateral clicks allows the evaluation of both the crossed and uncrossed elements of the auditory efferent nervous system, while yielding larger, more discernible, inhibition of the CEOAEs relative to either ipsilateral or contralateral condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sriram Boothalingam
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, and The Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA.
| | - Julianne Kurke
- Roxelyn and Richard Pepper Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Sumitrajit Dhar
- Roxelyn and Richard Pepper Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, and The Knowles Hearing Center, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
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15
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Valero MD, Hancock KE, Maison SF, Liberman MC. Effects of cochlear synaptopathy on middle-ear muscle reflexes in unanesthetized mice. Hear Res 2018; 363:109-118. [PMID: 29598837 DOI: 10.1016/j.heares.2018.03.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2017] [Revised: 02/20/2018] [Accepted: 03/09/2018] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
Cochlear synaptopathy, i.e. the loss of auditory-nerve connections with cochlear hair cells, is seen in aging, noise damage, and other types of acquired sensorineural hearing loss. Because the subset of auditory-nerve fibers with high thresholds and low spontaneous rates (SRs) is disproportionately affected, audiometric thresholds are relatively insensitive to this primary neural degeneration. Although suprathreshold amplitudes of wave I of the auditory brainstem response (ABR) are attenuated in synaptopathic mice, there is not yet a robust diagnostic in humans. The middle-ear muscle reflex (MEMR) might be a sensitive metric (Valero et al., 2016), because low-SR fibers may be important drivers of the MEMR (Liberman and Kiang, 1984; Kobler et al., 1992). Here, to test the hypothesis that narrowband reflex elicitors can identify synaptopathic cochlear regions, we measured reflex growth functions in unanesthetized mice with varying degrees of noise-induced synaptopathy and in unexposed controls. To separate effects of the MEMR from those of the medial olivocochlear reflex, the other sound-evoked cochlear feedback loop, we used a mutant mouse strain with deletion of the acetylcholine receptor required for olivocochlear function. We demonstrate that the MEMR is normal when activated from non-synaptopathic cochlear regions, is greatly weakened in synaptopathic regions, and is a more sensitive indicator of moderate synaptopathy than the suprathreshold amplitude of ABR wave I.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle D Valero
- Eaton-Peabody Laboratories, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Department of Otolaryngology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Kenneth E Hancock
- Eaton-Peabody Laboratories, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Department of Otolaryngology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Stéphane F Maison
- Eaton-Peabody Laboratories, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Department of Otolaryngology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - M Charles Liberman
- Eaton-Peabody Laboratories, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Department of Otolaryngology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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Jedrzejczak WW, Milner R, Olszewski L, Skarzynski H. Heightened visual attention does not affect inner ear function as measured by otoacoustic emissions. PeerJ 2017; 5:e4199. [PMID: 29302404 PMCID: PMC5742277 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.4199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2017] [Accepted: 12/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous research has indicated that inner ear function might be modulated by visual attention, although the results have not been totally conclusive. Conceivably, modulation of hearing might occur due to stimulation of the cochlea via descending medial olivocochlear (MOC) neurons. The aim of the present study was to test whether increased visual attention caused corresponding changes in inner ear function, which was measured by the strength of otoacoustic emissions (OAEs) recorded from the ear canal in response to a steady train of clicks. To manipulate attention, we asked subjects to attend to, or ignore, visual stimuli delivered according to an odd-ball paradigm. The subjects were presented with two types of visual stimuli: standard and deviant (20% of all stimuli, randomly presented). During a passive part of the experiment, subjects had to just observe a pattern of squares on a computer screen. In an active condition, the subject's task was to silently count the occasional inverted (deviant) pattern on the screen. At all times, visual evoked potentials (VEPs) were used to objectively gauge the subject's state of attention, and OAEs in response to clicks (transiently evoked OAEs, TEOAEs) were used to gauge inner ear function. As a test of descending neural activity, TEOAE levels were evaluated with and without contralateral acoustic stimulation (CAS) by broadband noise, a paradigm known to activate the MOC pathway. Our results showed that the recorded VEPs were, as expected, a good measure of visual attention, but even when attention levels changed there was no corresponding change in TEOAE levels. We conclude that visual attention does not significantly affect inner ear function.
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Affiliation(s)
- W. Wiktor Jedrzejczak
- Institute of Physiology and Pathology of Hearing, Warsaw, Poland
- World Hearing Center, Kajetany, Poland
| | - Rafal Milner
- Institute of Physiology and Pathology of Hearing, Warsaw, Poland
- World Hearing Center, Kajetany, Poland
| | - Lukasz Olszewski
- Institute of Physiology and Pathology of Hearing, Warsaw, Poland
- World Hearing Center, Kajetany, Poland
| | - Henryk Skarzynski
- Institute of Physiology and Pathology of Hearing, Warsaw, Poland
- World Hearing Center, Kajetany, Poland
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