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Methods Inf Med 2014; 53(05): 364-370
DOI: 10.3414/ME14-01-0004
Original Articles
Schattauer GmbH

Extraction of Cochlear Non-linearities with the Bispectral Analysis

An Application to TEOAEs in Styrene-exposed Workers
E. Chiaramello
1   CNR IEIIT – National Research Council of Italy Institute of Electronics, Computer and Telecommunication Engineering, Milan, Italy
,
S. Moriconi
1   CNR IEIIT – National Research Council of Italy Institute of Electronics, Computer and Telecommunication Engineering, Milan, Italy
,
G. Tognola
1   CNR IEIIT – National Research Council of Italy Institute of Electronics, Computer and Telecommunication Engineering, Milan, Italy
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received:16 January 2014

accepted:22 April 2014

Publication Date:
20 January 2018 (online)

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Summary

Objectives: Transient Otoacoustic Emission (TEOAEs) are low intensity sounds generated by active mechanisms in the cochlea and elicited by broadband and short acoustic stimuli. TEOAEs are a quick, non-invasive, and very reliable measure to objectively assess the peripheral auditory system. In the current study, we present a recent technique to extract and evaluate non-linearities in TEOAEs, and apply it for the preliminary analysis of TEOAE recordings of a group of worker of a fiberglass manufacturing facility exposed to styrene solvent.

Methods: Bispectral analysis was applied to TEOAEs to extract the quadratic frequency couplings (QFCs) in TEOAEs. Amplitude of QFCs was calculated in a group of 7 styrene-exposed workers (14 ears) and compared with normative results obtained on normal hearing young adults.

Results: Difference in amplitude of QFCs were found between workers and controls. In workers, TEOAE non-linear components were found in the 1.5 – 4 kHz frequency range, whereas in control subjects they were found in a lower frequency region, ranging from 1 to 3 kHz.

Conclusion: The amplitude of QFCs highlighted differences in TEOAEs recorded among workers and controls.

Keywords

Bispectral analysis - cochlear non-linearities - otoacoustic emissions - styrene-exposure
 

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