The effects of aging on evoked otoacoustic emissions and efferent suppression of transient evoked otoacoustic emissions

• Published in: Clinical neurophysiology Vol. 121; no. 3; pp. 359 - 365
• Main Authors: Keppler, Hannah, Dhooge, Ingeborg, Corthals, Paul, Maes, Leen, D’haenens, Wendy, Bockstael, Annelies, Philips, Birgit, Swinnen, Freya, Vinck, Bart
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ireland Ltd 01.03.2010; Elsevier
• Subjects: Acoustic Stimulation; Adult; Aged; Aging; Aging - physiology; Audiometry, Evoked Response - methods; Auditory Pathways - physiology; Auditory Threshold - physiology; Biological and medical sciences; Distortion product otoacoustic emissions; Ear and associated structures. Auditory pathways and centers. Hearing. Vocal organ. Phonation. Sound production. Echolocation; Efferent Pathways - physiology; Efferent suppression of transient evoked otoacoustic emissions; Electrodiagnosis. Electric activity recording; Evoked Potentials, Auditory - physiology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hearing - physiology; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural - diagnosis; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural - physiopathology; Humans; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Nervous system; Neural Inhibition - physiology; Neurology; Transient evoked otoacoustic emissions; Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs; Young Adult; Aging; Transient evoked otoacoustic emissions; Efferent suppression of transient evoked otoacoustic emissions; Distortion product otoacoustic emissions; Correlation coefficient; Internal ear disease; Suppression; Efferent suppression of transient evoked; Auditory disorder; Evoked otoacoustic emission; otoacoustic emissions; Variance; Hearing; Acoustic stimulus; Distorsion product otoacoustic emission; Ear; Presbyacusia; ENT disease; Perception hearing loss; Models; High frequency hearing loss; Sensory hearing loss; Pure tone
• ISSN: 1388-2457; 1872-8952; 1872-8952
• DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2009.11.003

There is still controversy regarding the effects of aging on evoked otoacoustic emissions (EOAEs), as well as on the efferent system measured by contralateral acoustic stimulation of EOAEs. The purpose of this study was to investigate the deterioration in EOAEs and efferent suppression (ES) in a representative sample statistically controlling for the differences in hearing thresholds. Seventy-one ears (20–79 years) were included in the study, 47 of which had normal hearing thresholds, and 24 ears had a sensorineural high-frequency hearing loss caused by presbycusis. The effects of aging on transient evoked (TEOAEs) and distortion product OAEs (DPOAEs), and on ES were evaluated using multiple regression and correlation coefficients. EOAEs and ES were more strongly correlated with age, than with pure-tone thresholds (PTTs). Moreover, the increase in the amount of variance explained by the regression model using both predictors was larger for PTTs as compared to the variable age. The deterioration of EOAEs and ES with advancing age is caused mainly by pure age-effects, and additionally by the reduction in hearing thresholds. The relative contribution of age and hearing thresholds on EOAEs, as well as on ES is important for their interpretation in clinical settings.