Effect of Wideband Absorbance Pattern on Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emission in Normal Hearing Individuals

Abstract

Introduction: The current study investigates the relationship between Wideband Acoustic Immittance (WAI) and Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emissions (DPOAEs) in young adults with normal hearing. WAI offers a detailed assessment of middle ear function by measuring acoustic energy absorbance at peak and ambient pressure across various frequencies. Methodology: Thirty-seven participants with normal hearing and middle ear function were screened through case history, otoscopy, and pure tone audiometry. WAI and DPOAE data were collected using the Interacoustics Titan middle-ear analyser and Echoports ILOV6 OAE analyser at ambient and peak pressures. DPOAEs SNR and Amplitude were recorded at multiple frequencies to determine their relationship with wideband absorbance at peak and ambient pressure. Results: The study found that middle ear absorbance was higher at peak pressure compared to ambient pressure, especially between 1000 and 4000 Hz. A significant positive correlation was observed between WAI and DPOAE amplitude and signal-to-noise ratio at 4000 Hz, indicating that WAI can effectively reflect middle ear function and its impact on DPOAEs. Conclusion: WAI provides valuable insights into middle ear dynamics and their influence on otoacoustic emissions. Future research should explore these relationships in different populations and under varying conditions to understand further the role of middle ear function in hearing assessments.