Objective measurement for early diagnosis of noise induced hearing impairment using high frequency DPOAE up to 16 kHz

Introduction:

In our society hearing is exposed to occupational noise and leisure noise with all potential consequences. During the last 20 decades we observe a growing number of young adults suffering from irreversibel hearing loss without a (year-) long exposure of noise. Current obective audiometric procedures usually measure frequencies as far as 8 kHz. We present a novel objective technique to enabel early diagnosis of noise induced hearing impairment.

Methods:

Two study groups (25 subjects without noise exposure and 23 with a positive medical history of noise exposure) were included. All participants demostrated normal tone audiogramms and positive TEOAE. In both groups a measurement of DPOAE (up to 16 kHz) and high frequency pure tone audiometry (up to 16 kHz) was added.

Results:

Comparing both study groups high frequency DPOAE measurement revealed significant (above 6 kHz) and highly significant (above 14 kHz) results. Between 10 and 16 kHz results from high tone audiometry and high frequency DPOAE correlated significantly in noise exposed subjects.

Conclusion:

Objective measurement of DPOAE ranging as far as 16 kHz promises to detect a potential sensorineural hearing loss in young adults when conventional audiometry does not indicate impairment.

Publication History

Publication Date:
18 April 2018 (online)