Could the Use of Acoustic Reflexes Prior to Administering Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emissions (DPOAEs) Affect the Results of DPOAEs?

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to investigate whether acoustic reflex threshold testing before administration of distortion product otoacoustic emissions can affect the results of the distortion product otoacoustic emissions testing using an automated protocol.

METHOD: Fifteen young adults with normal hearing ranging in age from 19 to 25 years participated in the study. All participants had clear external ear canals and normal Jerger Type A tympanograms and had passed a hearing screening. Testing was performed using the Interacoustics Titan acoustic reflex threshold and distortion product otoacoustic emissions protocol. Participants underwent baseline distortion product otoacoustic emissions.

RESULTS

A paired-samples t test was conducted for both the right and left ears to assess within-group differences between baseline distortion product otoacoustic emissions and repeated distortion product otoacoustic emissions measures. No significant differences were found in distortion product otoacoustic emission measures following administration of acoustic reflexes.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of a protocol when using an automated system that includes both acoustic reflexes and distortion product otoacoustic emissions is important. Overall, presentation of acoustic reflexes prior to measuring distortion product otoacoustic emission did not affect distortion product otoacoustic emission results; therefore, test sequence can be modified as needed.