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. 2011 Apr;129(4):EL108-13.
doi: 10.1121/1.3553389.

Distortion-product otoacoustic-emission suppression tuning in human infants and adults using absorbed sound power

Douglas H Keefe  1 , Carolina Abdala
Affiliations

Distortion-product otoacoustic-emission suppression tuning in human infants and adults using absorbed sound power

Douglas H Keefe et al. J Acoust Soc Am. 2011 Apr.

Abstract

The greatest difference in distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) suppression tuning curves (STCs) in infant and adult ears occurs at a stimulus frequency of 6 kHz. These infant and adult STCs are much more similar when constructed using the absorbed power level of the stimulus and suppressor tones rather than using sound pressure level. This procedure incorporates age-related differences in forward and reverse transmission of sound power through the ear canal and middle ear. These results support the theory that the cochlear mechanics underlying DPOAE suppression are substantially mature in full-term infants.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
(Color online) DPOAE tuning curve based on mean suppressor SPL for ears of adults, six-month-olds, and newborn infants for f2 frequency of 6 kHz. Each error bar represents ±1 SE. The mean ±1 SE of the tip-to-tail pressure level is specified in the legend for each age group. Circle symbols at f2 = 6 kHz represent L2 = 55 dB SPL. In all figures, the curves at each age are slightly displaced along the abscissa to reduce any overlap between the error bars and circle symbols for different age groups.
Figure 2
Figure 2
(Color online) DPOAE tuning curve based on mean La for ears of adults, six-month-olds, and newborn infants. Each error bar represents ±1 SE of La. The mean ±1 SE of the tip-to-tail power level is specified in the legend for each age group. Circle symbols at f2 represent the absorbed power level of the stimulus based on L2 and the mean LG at f1 and f2.
Figure 3
Figure 3
(Color online) DPOAE tuning curve based on ΔLa, the difference in La and the absorbed power level of the stimulus based on L2 and the mean LG at f1 and f2, for ears of adults, six-month-olds, and newborn infants. Each error bar represents ±1 SE calculated the same as in Fig. 2. The tip-to-tail power levels are the same as in Fig. 2. Circle symbols at f2 = 6 kHz and 0 dB denote the normalization of each STC to the absorbed DPOAE stimulus power (compare to Fig. 1).
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References

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