The Relationship Between DPOAE Fine-Structure and Hearing Sensitivity Across Different Age Groups and Gender.

Abstract

The present study aimed to study the relationship between amplitude of the distortion product oto-acoustic emission fine structure and hearing sensitivity across different age groups and gender. A total of 98 normal hearing individuals subdivided into three age groups participated in the study. The amplitude of DPOAE fine structure for 1/8 inter-octaves (1001 Hz-7996 Hz) was studied and was correlated with the behavioural puretone thresholds for respective 1/8 inter-octaves. The results revealed significant age and gender differences in the amplitude of DPOAE amplitude but a poor correlation between the amplitude of DPOAE fine structure and behavioural thresholds. Hence, the amplitude of the fine structure of the DPOAE cannot be used as a tool to predict the puretone threshold in normal hearing individuals.