The influence of pressure compensation in the middle ear on the detection of distortion product otoacoustic emissions

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the effects of pressure compensation in the middle ear on the size of the response of distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) at frequencies from 1 to 6 kHz. The testing was performed on 150 patients, within three age groups (2­15; 16-40; 41-71 years of age). The pressure in the middle ear varied from negative to positive (-329 to 195 daPa). Increasing the pressure in the compensation for 1 daPa led to an increase in amplitude at frequencies of 1.0, 1.3 and 1.6 kHz to 0.02, 0.03 and 0.02 dB SPL (decibel of sound pressure level), and the noise level at frequencies from 1.0 to 2.0 kHz, causing an increase of 0.02 to 0.03 dB SPL. Compensatory treatment led to an increase in DPOAE response (amplitude and noise level). The largest amplitude was determined at frequencies lower than 2 kHz within the levels of both examined influences. Pressure compensation had a stimulating influence on the detectability of DPOAE, which increases the reliability of this method when testing the functionality of the middle ear.

Keywords

• ambient pressure
• compensation
• otoacoustic emissions
• sex
• age