scholarly journals Comparison of Saccular Function in Nonmusicians and Violinists Using cVEMP: A Pilot Study

Author(s):  
Eva Eadle D’Souza ◽  
Krishna Yerraguntla

Abstract Introduction Human auditory and vestibular systems change due to noise exposure. Professional musicians are often subjected to loud music and longer durations as part of their practice. Although the effects of music have been explored extensively on the auditory system, it is important to understand changes in the vestibular system also. The current study is aimed to compare cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potential (cVEMP) findings in nonmusicians and violinists to understand if there are any changes in the P1 and N1 latencies and absolute amplitudes in the violinists’ groups because of their exposure to violin music. Materials and Methods Twelve participants (6 nonmusicians and 6 violinists) of both genders were included in the study. Pure tone audiometry and distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) were performed on all the participants. cVEMP P1 and N1 latencies and absolute amplitudes were obtained, and overall mean differences were compared within and between groups. Results Pure tone average and DPOAE were within the normal range between and within the groups. Results indicate that P1 and N1 absolute amplitudes and latencies were slightly prolonged in the violinists’ group; however, the mean difference was not statistically significant. Comparison of mean absolute amplitudes and latencies between the ears in the violinists’ group showed longer latencies and greater absolute amplitudes in the left ear of violinists as compared with the right ear. In the study, the violinists’ group consisted of participants who had an average daily exposure of about one-and-a-half hours and had an experience of playing the instrument for more than 5 years. Conclusion cVEMP is useful in detecting early changes in the saccule that may occur due to noise exposure. It can be concluded that, even before a clinically detectable hearing loss or vestibular damage, changes in saccule are observed with the help of cVEMP and should be included in the audiovestibular test for early identification.

2015 ◽  
Vol 129 (12) ◽  
pp. 1174-1181 ◽  
Author(s):  
N Wooles ◽  
M Mulheran ◽  
P Bray ◽  
M Brewster ◽  
A R Banerjee

AbstractObjective:To examine whether distortion product otoacoustic emissions can serve as a replacement for pure tone audiometry in longitudinal screening for occupational noise exposure related auditory deficit.Methods:A retrospective review was conducted of pure tone audiometry and distortion product otoacoustic emission data obtained sequentially during mandatory screening of brickyard workers (n = 16). Individual pure tone audiometry thresholds were compared with distortion product otoacoustic emission amplitudes, and a correlation of these measurements was conducted.Results:Pure tone audiometry threshold elevation was identified in 13 out of 16 workers. When distortion product otoacoustic emission amplitudes were compared with pure tone audiometry thresholds at matched frequencies, no evidence of a robust relationship was apparent. Seven out of 16 workers had substantial distortion product otoacoustic emissions with elevated pure tone audiometry thresholds.Conclusion:No clinically relevant predictive relationship between distortion product otoacoustic emission amplitude and pure tone audiometry threshold was apparent. These results do not support the replacement of pure tone audiometry with distortion product otoacoustic emissions in screening. Distortion product otoacoustic emissions at frequencies associated with elevated pure tone audiometry thresholds are evidence of intact outer hair cell function, suggesting that sites distinct from these contribute to auditory deficit following ototrauma.


Author(s):  
Małgorzata Pawlaczyk-Łuszczyńska ◽  
Małgorzata Zamojska-Daniszewska ◽  
Adam Dudarewicz ◽  
Kamil Zaborowski

The objective of this study was to assess the hearing of music students in relation to their exposure to excessive sounds. A standard pure-tone audiometry, transient-evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAEs) and distortion-product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) were determined in 163 students of music academies, aged 22.8 ± 2.6 years. A questionnaire survey and sound pressure level measurements during solo and group playing were also conducted. The control group comprised 67 subjects, mainly non-music students, aged 22.8 ± 3.3 years. Study subjects were exposed to sounds at the A-weighted weekly noise exposure level (LEX,w) from 75 to 106 dB. There were no significant differences in the hearing thresholds between groups in the frequency range of 4000–8000 Hz. However, music students compared to control group exhibited lower values of DPOAE amplitude (at 6000 and 7984 Hz) and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) (at 984, 6000, and 7984 Hz) as well as SNR of TEOAE (in 1000 Hz band). A significant impact of noise exposure level, type of instrument, and gender on some parameters of measured otoacoustic emissions was observed. In particular, music students having LEX,w ≥ 84.9 dB, compared to those with LEX,w < 84.9 dB, achieved significantly lower DPOAE amplitude at 3984 Hz. Meanwhile, both TEOAE and DPOAE results indicated worse hearing in students playing percussion instruments vs. wind instruments, and wind instrument players vs. students playing stringed instruments.


Author(s):  
Nuriye Yıldırım Gökay ◽  
Bülent Gündüz ◽  
Fatih Söke ◽  
Recep Karamert

Purpose The effects of neurological diseases on the auditory system have been a notable issue for investigators because the auditory pathway is closely associated with neural systems. The purposes of this study are to evaluate the efferent auditory system function and hearing quality in Parkinson's disease (PD) and to compare the findings with age-matched individuals without PD to present a perspective on aging. Method The study included 35 individuals with PD (mean age of 48.50 ± 8.00 years) and 35 normal-hearing peers (mean age of 49 ± 10 years). The following tests were administered for all participants: the first section of the Speech, Spatial and Qualities of Hearing Scale; pure-tone audiometry, speech audiometry, tympanometry, and acoustic reflexes; and distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) and contralateral suppression of DPOAEs. SPSS Version 25 was used for statistical analyses, and values of p < .05 were considered statistically significant. Results There were no statistically significant differences in the pure-tone audiometry thresholds and DPOAE responses between the individuals with PD and their normal-hearing peers ( p = .732). However, statistically significant differences were found between the groups in suppression levels of DPOAEs and hearing quality ( p < .05). In addition, a statistically significant and positive correlation was found between the amount of suppression at some frequencies and the Speech, Spatial and Qualities of Hearing Scale scores. Conclusions This study indicates that medial olivocochlear efferent system function and the hearing quality of individuals with PD were affected adversely due to the results of PD pathophysiology on the hearing system. For optimal intervention and follow-up, tasks related to hearing quality in daily life can also be added to therapies for PD.


2013 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Samantha Marlanie Govender ◽  
Cyril Devdas Govender ◽  
Glenda Matthews

Objective: To evaluate cochlear functioning in patients (18 - 45 years old) with varying stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Using purposive sampling, 50 participants, 10 in each of the 5 stages of CKD, were selected and underwent pure tone audiometric testing and distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs).Results: Significant differences (p<0.05) were found between pure tone audiometry and DPOAEs in detecting early cochlear dysfunction in the high-frequency range in stages 3 (6 000/5 000 Hz; p=0.00), 4 (6 000/5 000 Hz; p<0.03) and 5 (4 000/3 333 Hz; p<0.01, 8 000/6 667 Hz:p<0.05) with DPOAEs being more sensitive in identifying early cochlear dysfunction. Patients in stages 1 and 2 presented with normal puretone thresholds and DPOAEs, suggesting that cochlear functioning in these patients was normal. Early cochlear dysfunction, thereby indicating a subclinical hearing loss, was identified in stages 3, 4 and 5 by DPOAE testing. In addition, blood test results, drug intake and concomitant conditions were recorded and analysed which suggested a relationship between reduced cochlear functioning and increased electrolyte levels, treatment regimens and concomitant conditions.Conclusion: Participants in the later stages of CKD presented with early cochlear dysfunction, presenting with subclinical hearing loss. It was postulated that this subclinical hearing loss resulted from a combination of electrolytic, urea and creatinine imbalances, together with concomitant medical conditions and ototoxic drug intake. It was concluded that audiological monitoring be included in the management of patients with CKD and that DPOAEs be introduced as part of the test battery to monitor cochlear function in patients with varying degrees of CKD.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Naomi F. Bramhall ◽  
Garnett P. McMillan ◽  
Amy N. Mashburn

Purpose Distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) and audiometric thresholds have been used to account for the impacts of subclinical outer hair cell (OHC) dysfunction on auditory perception and measures of auditory physiology. However, the relationship between DPOAEs and the audiogram is unclear. This study investigated this relationship by determining how well DPOAE levels can predict the audiogram among individuals with clinically normal hearing. Additionally, the impacts of age, noise exposure, and the perception of tinnitus on the ability of DPOAE levels to predict the audiogram were evaluated. Method Suprathreshold DPOAE levels from 1 to 10 kHz and pure-tone thresholds from 0.25 to 16 kHz were measured in 366 ears from 194 young adults (19–35 years old) with clinically normal audiograms and middle ear function. The measured DPOAE levels at all frequencies were used to predict pure-tone thresholds at each frequency. Participants were grouped by age, self-reported noise exposure/Veteran status, and self-report of tinnitus. Results Including DPOAE levels in the pure-tone threshold prediction model improved threshold predictions at all frequencies from 0.25 to 16 kHz compared with a model based only on sample mean pure-tone thresholds, but these improvements were modest. DPOAE levels for f 2 frequencies of 4 and 5 kHz were particularly influential in predicting pure-tone thresholds above 4 kHz. However, prediction accuracy varied based on participant characteristics. On average, predicted pure-tone thresholds were better than measured thresholds among Veterans, individuals with tinnitus, and the oldest age group. Conclusions These results indicate a complex relationship between DPOAE levels and the audiogram. Underestimation of pure-tone thresholds for some groups suggests that additional factors other than OHC damage may impact thresholds among individuals within these categories. These findings suggest that DPOAE levels and pure-tone thresholds may differ in terms of how well they reflect subclinical OHC dysfunction. Supplemental Material https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.13564745


2020 ◽  
Vol 63 (3) ◽  
pp. 885-895
Author(s):  
Peter Torre ◽  
Mark B. Reed

Purpose The purpose of this study was to examine marijuana or other substance use on pure-tone thresholds and distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) in young adults. Method Young adults ( n = 243; 182 women, 61 men; M age = 20.9 years, SD = 2.7 years) participated in this study. Survey data included personal music system use, marijuana use, and misuse of prescription medications. Otoscopy, tympanometry, pure-tone audiometry, and DPOAEs were obtained. Pure tones from octave frequencies of 0.25 through 8 kHz were obtained, and DPOAEs were recorded between f 2 frequencies of 1 and 6 kHz using two continuously presented stimulus tones swept in frequency. Results Those who reported marijuana or stimulant use had similar pure-tone averages (0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz) compared to those who reported never using marijuana or stimulants. Women who reported marijuana use in the past 30 days > two times had statistically significant higher mean DPOAEs compared to women who reported ≤ two times or no marijuana use in the past 30 days. Men, however, who reported marijuana use in the past 30 days > two times had lower, but not statistically significant, mean DPOAEs compared to men who reported ≤ two times or no marijuana use in the past 30 days. Women who reported ever using stimulants had statistically significant higher mean DPOAEs compared to women who reported never using stimulants; for men, mean DPOAEs were similar between those who reported ever using stimulants and those who never used stimulants. Conclusions The results of this study demonstrate different and contradictory associations between marijuana use, stimulant use, and hearing outcomes as a function of sex. Future research is needed to explore these associations utilizing larger sample sizes while accounting for additional harmful exposures to other noise exposures.


2006 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 251-254 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Stites Whatley ◽  
Rakesh K. Chandra ◽  
C. Bruce MacDonald

Objective To determine if gentamicin nasal irrigation is systemically absorbed, and to identify any ototoxic side effects related to its use. Design Retrospective review of 12 patients treated with gentamicin nasal irrigations (30 cc of 80 mg/L solution used bilaterally twice daily). Methods Serum gentamicin levels were assayed after the course treatment. Pure tone audiometry (250–8000 Hz) and distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DP-OAEs) at 7280, 5133, 3640 and 2560 Hz were obtained before and after therapy. Results Twelve patients (age 4 to 74, mean 43) with chronic rhinosinusitis were treated for 3–15 weeks (mean 7 weeks). All patients had undergone previous endoscopic sinus surgery. Ten patients had pretreatment cultures that grew organisms sensitive to gentamicin (Pseudomonas, Proteus, or methacillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus), and three patients had cystic fibrosis. Ten of 12 patients (83%) had detectable posttreatment levels of gentamicin, with a mean serum level of 0.42 mcg/mL (range 0.3 to 0.7 mcg/mL). Four of 12 patients (33%) had serum gentamicin levels within the normal range for gentamicin trough (0.5 to 2 mcg/mL). Comparison of pre- and posttreatment audiologic data revealed no significant change in PTA or DP-OAE, except for the right ear at 8000 Hz on PTA (p = 0.035) where a mean of 7 dB loss was observed. No patient reported hearing loss or vertigo during treatment. Conclusion Gentamicin nasal irrigation may be systemically absorbed. Although the otologic consequences of this finding are questionable, patients receiving gentamicin nasal irrigations should be counseled regarding this hypothetical possibility.


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