Semin Hear 2001; 22(4): 393-404
DOI: 10.1055/s-2001-19112
Copyright © 2001 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc., 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA. Tel.: +1(212) 584-4662

Monitoring the Effects of Noise with Otoacoustic Emissions

Judi A. Lapsley Miller, Lynne Marshall
  • Hearing Conservation Team, Naval Submarine Medical Research Laboratory, Groton, Connecticut
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
18 December 2001 (online)

ABSTRACT

There are not enough documented cases of permanent hearing loss in which both hearing and evoked otoacoustic emissions have been followed in individuals over time to allow generalizations of how noise exposure affects emissions relative to hearing thresholds. Early results from longitudinal studies show some interesting case studies in which the emissions confirm and extend audiometric results. To collect valid, reliable, long-term data on noise-exposed people, a number of factors must be considered. These factors include (1) choice of stimulus; (2) measurement of the emission, including analyzing bandwidth, absolute or relative emission level, unmeasurable emissions, and noise floor issues; (3) probe fit and ensuring a good stimulus waveform and spectrum; and (4) middle-ear pressure. Emissions can be used in a clinical setting if the test-retest reliability is established for the protocol, equipment, testers, and clinical population of interest. This allows identification of abnormal emission shifts, but interpretation and implications at this stage are limited.

REFERENCES

  • 1 Nordmann A S, Bohne B A, Harding G W. Histopathological differences between temporary and permanent threshold shift.  Hear Res . 2000;  139 13-30
  • 2 Davis R I, Ahroon W A, Hamernik R P. The relation among hearing loss, sensory cell loss and tuning characteristics in the chinchilla.  Hear Res . 1989;  41 1-14
  • 3 Probst R, Lonsbury-Martin B L, Martin G K. A review of otoacoustic emissions.  J Acoust Soc Am . 1991;  89 2027-2067
  • 4 Liberman M C, Dodds L W, Learson D A. Structure-function correlation in noise-damaged ears: a light and electron-microscopic study. In: Salvi RJ, Henderson D, Hamernik RP, Colletti V, eds. Basic and Applied Aspects of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss New York: Plenum 1986: 163-177
  • 5 Attias J, Bresloff I, Reshef I, Horowitz G, Furman V. Evaluating noise induced hearing loss with distortion product otoacoustic emissions.  Br J Audiol . 1998;  32 39-46
  • 6 Sliwinska-Kowalska M. The role of evoked and distortion-product otoacoustic emissions in diagnosis of occupational noise-induced hearing loss.  J Audiol Med . 1998;  7 29-45
  • 7 LePage E L, Murray N M. Latent cochlear damage in personal stereo users: a study based on click-evoked otoacoustic emissions.  Med J Aust . 1998;  169 588-592
  • 8 Mansfield J D, Baghurst P A, Newton V E. Otoacoustic emissions in 28 young adults exposed to amplified music.  Br J Audiol . 1999;  33 211-222
  • 9 Sliwinska-Kowalska M. Industrial hearing loss monitored by otoacoustic emissions. Paper presented at Noise Pollution Health Effects Reduction (NOPHER) 2000 International Symposium on Noise-Induced Hearing Loss, Cambridge, England, 2000
  • 10 Marshall L, Heller L M, Westhusin L J, Lapsley Miller A J. TEOAE/DPOAE changes associated with developing NIHL.  Assoc Res Otolaryngol Abstr . 2000;  66
  • 11 Marshall L, Lapsley Miller A J, Heller L M. Distortion-product otoacoustic emissions as a screening tool for noise-induced hearing loss. Paper presented at Noise Pollution Health Effects Reduction (NOPHER) 2000 International Symposium on Noise-Induced Hearing Loss, Cambridge, England, 2000
  • 12 Lapsley Miller A J, Marshall L. Hearing conservation programs of the future: what role will otoacoustic emissions play?.  Spectrum . 2001;  18(1) 1-6
  • 13 Kapadia S, Lutman M E. Are normal hearing thresholds a sufficient condition for click-evoked otoacoustic emissions?.  J Acoust Soc Am . 1997;  101 3566-3567
  • 14 Avan P, Bonfils P, Loth D. Effects of acoustic overstimulation on distortion-product and transient-evoked otoacoustic emissions. In: Axelsson A, Hellstrom PA, Borchgrevink H, Henderson D, Hamernik RP, Salvi R, eds. Scientific Basis of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss Stuttgart: George Thieme Verlag 1996: 65-81
  • 15 Marshall L, Heller L M, Lentz B. Distortion-product emissions accompanying TTS.  Assoc Res Otolaryngol Abstr . 1998;  150
  • 16 Marshall L, Heller L M. Transient-evoked otoacoustic emissions as a measure of noise-induced threshold shift.  J Speech Lang Hear Res . 1998;  41 1319-1334
  • 17 Liebel J, Delb W, Andes C, Koch A. Die Erfassung von Lärmschäden bei Besuchern einer Diskothek mit Hilfe der TEOAE und DPOAE.  Laryngorhinootologie . 1996;  75 259-264
  • 18 Vinck B M, Van Cauwenberge B P, Leroy L, Corthals P. Sensitivity of transient evoked and distortion product otoacoustic emissions to the direct effects of noise on the human cochlea.  Audiology . 1999;  38 44-52
  • 19 Avan P, Elbez M, Bonfils P. Click-evoked otoacoustic emissions and the influence of high-frequency hearing losses in humans.  J Acoust Soc Am . 1997;  101 2771-2777
  • 20 Shera C A, Guinan Jr J J. Evoked otoacoustic emissions arise by two fundamentally different mechanisms: a taxonomy for mammalian OAEs.  J Acoust Soc Am . 1999;  105 782-798
  • 21 Engdahl B, Kemp D T. The effect of noise exposure on the details of distortion product otoacoustic emissions in humans.  J Acoust Soc Am . 1996;  99 1573-1587
  • 22 Talmadge C L, Long G R, Tubis A, Dhar S. Experimental confirmation of the two-source interference model for the fine structure of distortion product otoacoustic emissions.  J Acoust Soc Am . 1999;  105 275-292
  • 23 Knight R D, Kemp D T. Indications of different distortion product otoacoustic emission mechanisms from a detailed f1,f2 area study.  J Acoust Soc Am . 2000;  107 457-473
  • 24 Marshall L, Heller L M. Reliability of transient-evoked otoacoustic emissions.  Ear Hear . 1996;  17 237-254
  • 25 Kemp D T, Ryan S, Bray P. A guide to the effective use of otoacoustic emissions.  Ear Hear . 1990;  11 93-105
  • 26 Marshall L, Heller L M, Westhusin L J. Effect of negative middle-ear pressure on transient-evoked otoacoustic emissions.  Ear Hear . 1997;  18 218-226
  • 27 Naeve S L, Margolis R H, Levine S C, Fournier E M. Effect of ear-canal air pressure on evoked otoacoustic emissions.  J Acoust Soc Am . 1992;  91 2091-2095
  • 28 Ghiselli E E. Theory of Psychological Measurement.  New York: McGraw-Hill; 1964