Distortion-product otoacoustic emission reflection-component delays and cochlear tuning: estimates from across the human lifespan

A consistent relationship between reflection-emission delay and cochlear tuning has been demonstrated in a variety of mammalian species, as predicted by filter theory and models of otoacoustic emission (OAE) generation. As a step toward the goal of studying cochlear tuning throughout the human lifes...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America 2014-04, Vol.135 (4), p.1950-1958
Main Authors: Abdala, Carolina, Guérit, François, Luo, Ping, Shera, Christopher A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acoustic Stimulation
Adolescent
Adult
Age Factors
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Aging
Auditory Pathways - physiology
Child
Child, Preschool
Cochlea - innervation
Female
Hearing Tests
Humans
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Male
Middle Aged
Neonatal Screening - methods
Otoacoustic Emissions, Spontaneous
Physiological Acoustics
Reaction Time
Time Factors
Young Adult
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Summary:A consistent relationship between reflection-emission delay and cochlear tuning has been demonstrated in a variety of mammalian species, as predicted by filter theory and models of otoacoustic emission (OAE) generation. As a step toward the goal of studying cochlear tuning throughout the human lifespan, this paper exploits the relationship and explores two strategies for estimating delay trends-energy weighting and peak picking-both of which emphasize data at the peaks of the magnitude fine structure. Distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) at 2f1-f2 were recorded, and their reflection components were extracted in 184 subjects ranging in age from prematurely born neonates to elderly adults. DPOAEs were measured from 0.5-4 kHz in all age groups and extended to 8 kHz in young adults. Delay trends were effectively estimated using either energy weighting or peak picking, with the former method yielding slightly shorter delays and the latter somewhat smaller confidence intervals. Delay and tuning estimates from young adults roughly match those obtained from SFOAEs. Although the match is imperfect, reflection-component delays showed the expected bend (apical-basal transition) near 1 kHz, consistent with a break in cochlear scaling. Consistent with other measures of tuning, the term newborn group showed the longest delays and sharpest tuning over much of the frequency range.
ISSN:0001-4966
1520-8524
DOI:10.1121/1.4868357