A CLINICAL-STUDY ON THE GROWTH OF DISTORTION-PRODUCT OTOACOUSTIC EMISSIONS AND HEARING-LOSS AT 2 KHZ IN HUMANS

Growth of distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE's) at 2 kHz was recorded in 380 human ears with different degrees of hearing loss. Using multiple linear regression analysis, the effect of hearing loss , sex and age on amplitudes and growth rate was evaluated. Hearing los s accounted for approximately one-fifth of the variation in maximum le vel of DPs and approximately one-fourth of variation in DP threshold. The effect of age was small, but significant. Hearing loss above and b elow 2 kHz did nor influence various DP parameters. Growth rate was ge nerally different for the high and low input level, but correlation wa s low with age and hearing loss. Various DPOAE response parameters pro duce too low values of sensitivity and specificity to be used as a pre dictor for hearing loss at 2 kHz.