Temporal Integration of the Contralateral Acoustic Reflex Threshold for a 1000 Hz Tonal Activator and Its Age-Related Changes

2009 ◽  
Vol 20 (04) ◽  
pp. 225-228 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michele B. Emmer ◽  
Shlomo Silman ◽  
Carol A. Silverman ◽  
Harry Levitt
Keyword(s):  
Temporal Integration ◽  
Age Effect ◽  
Broadband Noise ◽  
Hearing Level ◽  
Acoustic Reflex ◽  
Hearing Sensitivity ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Main Effect ◽  
Reflex Threshold ◽  
Acoustic Reflex Threshold

Background: Previous research has noted an age effect on the temporal integration of the acoustic reflex for a noise activator. Purpose: To determine whether the age effect earlier noted for a noise activator will be noted for a tonal activator. Research Design: Comparison of ARTs of younger and older groups at activating stimulus durations of 12, 25, 50, 100, 200, 300, 500, and 1000 msec. Study Sample: Two groups of adults with normal-hearing sensitivity: one group of 20 young adults (ten males and ten females, ages 18–29 years, with a mean age of 24 years) and one group of 20 older adults (ten males and ten females, ages 59–75 years, with a mean age of 67.5 years). Results: A significant main effect for duration was obtained. That is, as the duration increased, the acoustic reflex threshold for the 1000 Hz tonal activator decreased. The interactions of duration × age group and duration × hearing level were not significant. There was a nonsignificant main effect (p = .889) for the between-subjects factor of age. Conclusion: Results contradict the findings for broadband noise.

Effects of Hearing Levels at the Activator and Other Frequencies upon the Expected Levels of the Acoustic Reflex Threshold

1983 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stanley A. Gelfand ◽  
Neil Piper ◽  
Shlomo Silman
Keyword(s):  
Linear Regression ◽  
Multiple Linear Regression ◽  
Clinical Applications ◽  
Hearing Level ◽  
Regression Equations ◽  
Acoustic Reflex ◽  
Reflex Threshold ◽  
Acoustic Reflex Threshold

Multiple linear regression equations were derived to define the expected levels of acoustic reflex thresholds (ARTs) at 500, 1000, and 2000 Hz predictable from hearing levels as 500–4000 Hz in 646 ears. When the hearing level at the activator frequency is ⩽50 dB HL, ARTs tend to be best defined by a constant value of 86–90 dB HL with small adjustments due to the loss at the activator or higher frequencies. When the hearing level at the activator frequency is 55–90 dB HL, the ART is best predicted by a constant plus the degree of loss at that frequency plus the loss at 4000 Hz. These data present the clinician with empirically derived bases for determining the effects of other frequencies on a given ART. Application of these findings permits the clinician to apply known relationships in determining whether a particular ART is representative of those expected for normal and/or cochlear impaired ears, elevated or depressed, without having to rely on vague intuitions of such relationships. Clinical applications are discussed.

Effects of Stimulus Duration and Stimulus Off Time on the Auditory and Acoustic Reflex Thresholds

1978 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 74-78 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan S. Feldman ◽  
Debra Katz
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Stimulus Duration ◽  
Auditory Threshold ◽  
Acoustic Reflex ◽  
Tracking Method ◽  
Hearing Sensitivity ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Reflex Threshold ◽  
Acoustic Reflex Threshold ◽  
Off Time

The effects of stimulus duration and stimulus off time on the thresholds of hearing and the acoustic reflex were investigated in 10 normal-hearing subjects and 10 subjects with sensorineural hearing loss. A 1000-Hz stimulus with on-off times of 500-500 msec and 30-30 msec was used to obtain hearing sensitivity and acoustic reflex thresholds via a tracking method. Auditory threshold was poorer for the 30-30 msec tone than the 500-500 msec stimulus in both groups. Using the different stimuli, no significant difference in acoustic reflex threshold was observed in either group. These results suggest that the addition of a short off time modifies the previously observed effects of both duration and off time on the acoustic reflex and auditory threshold.

Static and Dynamic Acoustic Impedance Measurements in Infant Ears

1975 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 435-443 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert H. Margolis ◽  
Gerald R. Popelka
Keyword(s):  
Computational Procedure ◽  
Acoustic Reflex ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
Hearing Sensitivity ◽  
Large Numbers ◽  
Threshold Data ◽  
Probe Frequency ◽  
Reflex Threshold ◽  
Computational Procedures ◽  
Acoustic Reflex Threshold

Tympanometry and acoustic reflex threshold data are reported for a series of presumably normal infants ranging in age from 55 to 132 days. In general, tympanograms displayed single peaks between ±50 mm H 2 O. Susceptance tympanograms with a 660-Hz probe frequency were sometimes characterized by monotonically increasing susceptance as ear canal pressure was changed from −200 to +200 mm H 2 O. Static values of acoustic conductance, susceptance, admittance, resistance, reactance, impedance, and phase angle were computed from tympanograms using the values of ambient and +200 mm H 2 O (0/+200 procedure) and the maximum and minimum tympanometric values (MAX/MIN procedure). Comparison of the data from the two computational procedures suggested that the MAX/MIN procedure produces means and standard deviations of static values which are more manageable for establishing confidence limits with which to evaluate potentially pathological subjects. The MAX/MIN procedure resulted in lower mean values of conductance and susceptance for infant subjects relative to previously reported adult data using a similar computational procedure. Acoustic reflex thresholds were clearly present in all testable infants at coupler sound pressure levels similar to adult data, suggesting that the relations between reflex thresholds and hearing sensitivity demonstrated in adult subjects are similarly applicable to infant subjects. Mild sedation to induce sleep without altering the reflex would make acoustic reflex threshold measurement a useful procedure for screening large numbers of infants.

Factors Influencing the Acoustic-Immittance Characteristics of the Acoustic Reflex

1979 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 480-499 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard H. Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Middle Ear ◽  
Sound Pressure ◽  
Broadband Noise ◽  
Intensity Level ◽  
Ear Canal ◽  
Acoustic Reflex ◽  
Impedance Characteristics ◽  
Reflex Threshold ◽  
Acoustic Reflex Threshold ◽  
Tonal Stimuli

Measurements of the aural acoustic-immittance (admittance and impedance) characteristics of the middle-ear transmission system in humans during the quiescent (static) and reflexive states were made (N = 36) utilizing a signal-averaging technique. Three pure tones (750, 1000, and 2000 Hz) and broadband noise stimuli elicited the acoustic reflex in 2-dB steps at sound-pressure levels from 84–116 dB (tones) and 66–116 dB (noise) during ascending- and descending-intensity level runs. The contralateral middle-ear activity was monitored with a 220-Hz probe by digitizing the conductance and susceptance outputs of an admittance meter. A computer corrected for the ear-canal volume utilizing measurements made at ear-canal pressures of 0 and −350 daPa and then converted the conductance and susceptance values into admittance and impedance units. The results were reported in absolute and relative immittance units, including components, as a function of both stimulus sound-pressure level and intensity level above the acoustic-reflex threshold. The static immittance of the middle ear changed nonlinearly over time to lower admittance or higher impedance values. The influence of this static-immittance shift on the reflex magnitude was discussed. The largest mean reflex magnitude and the slowest rate of growth were observed with broadband noise, although eight of the 36 subjects demonstrated the largest reflex magnitude in response to one or more of the tonal stimuli. Although static-immittance values and acoustic-reflex thresholds were poorly correlated, the reflex magnitudes were proportional to static immittance. The variability of the reflex measures was similar to the variability of the static-immittance values. Finally, bi-directional changes in resistance during the reflexive state were observed and discussed.

Effects of Alcohol on the Acoustic Reflex Threshold

2008 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 48-51
Author(s):  
Mee-Hye Park ◽  
Hyun-Woo Kyun ◽  
Boo-Eem Kim
Keyword(s):  
Acoustic Reflex ◽  
Reflex Threshold ◽  
Acoustic Reflex Threshold

Some effects of signal bandwidth and spectral density on the acoustic‐reflex threshold in the elderly

1989 ◽  
Vol 86 (5) ◽  
pp. 1783-1789 ◽  
Author(s):  
John J. Jakimetz ◽  
Shlomo Silman ◽  
Maurice H. Miller ◽  
Carol Ann Silverman
Keyword(s):  
Spectral Density ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Acoustic Reflex ◽  
Reflex Threshold ◽  
Acoustic Reflex Threshold

Auditory Brainstem Response and Audiologic Findings in Adrenoleukodystrophy: Its Variant and Carrier

1988 ◽  
Vol 98 (3) ◽  
pp. 215-220 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hiroshi Shimizu ◽  
Hugo W. Moser ◽  
Sakkubai Naidu
Keyword(s):  
High Sensitivity ◽  
Auditory Brainstem ◽  
Speech Discrimination ◽  
Acoustic Reflex ◽  
Auditory Brain Stem Response ◽  
Auditory Brain Stem ◽  
Profound Deafness ◽  
Brainstem Response ◽  
Reflex Threshold ◽  
Acoustic Reflex Threshold

Auditory brain stem response, auditory sensitivity, speech discrimination function, acoustic reflex threshold, and reflex decay were studied in seven children with adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD), nine adults with adrenomyeloneuropathy (AMN), one child with neonatal ALD, and two carriers of ALD. Significant auditory dysfunctions were found in only two patients; a retrocochlear type auditory disorder in one child with ALD, and a profound deafness in a child with neonatal ALD. None of the patients showed significant abnormality in acoustic reflex threshold and reflex decay except for one patient with ALD who showed a slightly elevated reflex threshold. All but two ALD patients showed significantly prolonged wave latencies and interwave intervals. The latency values revealed the highest incidence of abnormality in the I to III interval; this was followed by the III to V interval, then by wave I. Significantly, one child with asymptomatic ALD and both heterozygous female relatives showed abnormal ABRs, demonstrating the high sensitivity of ABR in detection of the existence of pathophysiological condition in subclinical or presymptomatic ALD.

The Prediction of Hearing Loss in Persons With Cerebral Palsy Using Contralateral Acoustic Reflex Threshold for Broad-Band Noise

2003 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 91-95
Author(s):  
Michele B. Emmer ◽  
Shlomo Silman
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Cerebral Palsy ◽  
Broad Band ◽  
Screening Method ◽  
Accurate Method ◽  
Normal Hearing ◽  
Acoustic Reflex ◽  
Band Noise ◽  
Reflex Threshold ◽  
Acoustic Reflex Threshold

The utility of R. Keith’s (1977) method of screening for hearing sensitivity using the contralateral acoustic-reflex threshold (ART) for broad-band noise (BBN) was tested in persons with cerebral palsy (CP). Three groups of participants were included in this prospective study. The first group comprised 20 normal-hearing individuals without CP whose results were used as normative data. The second group comprised 16 participants with normal hearing and CP. The third group comprised 22 participants with sensorineural hearing loss and CP. The results of this study indicate that Keith’s screening method employing ART for BBN can be used successfully in a population with multiple handicaps where a quick, inexpensive, readily available, and accurate method is needed.

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