Quantitative measure of multicomponents of otoacoustic emissions

A method for quantitatively measuring measuring multicomponents of otoacous tic emissions (OAE) was developed in this study. The method is based on the rationale that, if the acoustic emission is a vector sum of multicomponent s coming from different locations in the cochlea, each component will show a delay. The proposed method consists of the following steps: (1) the ampli tude and phase of the emission is measured when the emission frequency is s wept; (2) the real part of the spectrum is obtained based on the amplitude and phase spectra; and (3) the real part of the emission spectrum is then a nalyzed using a Fourier transform to extract the multiple components. The t heoretical basis and practical procedure of this method are described, and in vitro and in vivo tests are used to demonstrate the validity of the meth od. Preliminary data demonstrate the multicomponents of the extracochlear e lectrically evoked otoacoustic emission (EEOAE). (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V, All rights reserved.