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A behavioral measure of the cochlear changes underlying temporary threshold shifts

Research output: Contribution to Journal/MagazineJournal articlepeer-review

Published
<mark>Journal publication date</mark>07/2011
<mark>Journal</mark>Hearing Research
Issue number1-2
Volume277
Number of pages10
Pages (from-to)78-87
Publication StatusPublished
<mark>Original language</mark>English

Abstract

It is well documented that exposure to recreational noise may result in a temporary threshold shift (TTS) due to cochlear dysfunction. A forward-masking paradigm was used to estimate the relative contribution of inner hair cell (IHC) and outer hair cell (OHC) dysfunction to ITS. Eighteen normal-hearing adults completed a test battery before, immediately after, and one week after attending a loud music venue. Personal dosimeters recorded mean equivalent exposure levels of 99.0 dB A. Shortly after exposure, there was an average TTS of 10.8 dB at 4 kHz, and an average reduction in the estimated gain provided by the OHCs of 11.5 dB. Gain reduction correlated significantly with ITS. The results suggest that OHC dysfunction can account almost entirely for the raised thresholds. For the test battery conducted a week after exposure, all measures showed recovery to pre-exposure values.