Wideband Acoustic Reflex Measurement

• Published in: Seminars in hearing Vol. 44; no. 1; pp. 84 - 92
• Main Authors: Feeney, M Patrick, Schairer, Kim S, Putterman, Daniel B
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Thieme Medical Publishers Inc 01.02.2023; Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc
• Series: Assessment of Middle Ear Function Using Wideband Acoustic Immittance: Current Practices and Future Prospects
• Subjects: Acoustics; Audiology; Auditory system; Auditory thresholds; Review; absorbance; wideband acoustic immittance; noise-induced synaptopathy; acoustic reflex thresholds
• ISSN: 0734-0451; 1098-8955
• DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1763296

Acoustic reflex thresholds (ART) obtained using pure-tone probe stimuli as part of a traditional immittance test battery can be used to evaluate site of lesion and provide a cross-check with behavioral results. ARTs obtained as part of a wideband acoustic immittance (WAI) test battery using a click as the probe stimulus can be used in the same way with the added benefit that they may provide lower ARTs than those obtained using a pure-tone probe. Another benefit of the WAI ART test is that it can be completed without requiring a hermetic seal or pressurizing the ear canal. A new adaptive method of obtaining ARTs using WAI techniques may cut test time in half, thus making this an attractive option for future clinical use. More advanced uses of WAI ART tests include the measurement of AR growth functions. These may be used to investigate the possible effects of synaptopathy related to high levels of noise exposure and possible auditory deficits related to ototoxicity.