DISTORTION-PRODUCT OTOACOUSTIC EMISSIONS IN NORMALLY HEARING SUBJECTS

The finding of active function by the outer hair cells for sound proce ssing prior to neural transduction in the inner hair cells represents the basic mechanism for the generation of Otoacoustic Emissions in the cochlea. Among them the so-called Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emis sions represent a tool for an in depth knowledge of the Organ of Corti micromechanics, more advantageous than others, based on their propert ies, that makes possible an objective frequency-specific study: The re sponse in a group of normally hearing subjects is presented and charac terized to ascertain the basic features to be used in further testing of deaf people.