Clinical application of frequency selectivity measurements

Abstract

Frequency selectivity and otoacoustic emission (OAE) testing are commonly used for the assessment of basilar membrane vibration and integrity of the outer hair cells in the inner ear. In this study, we investigated the relationship between the frequency selectivity profiles (psychophysical properties) and OAEs (objective parameters) in patients with sensorineural hearing loss. We found a positive correlation between these measures, which suggested that they could be used for non-invasive determinations of the inner ear function. Our research showed that frequency selectivity testing was useful for quantitative assessment of the auditory responses in the low frequency range, as well as the audiological characteristics of individuals with moderate to severe hearing impairment, in whom OAE testing is not appropriate. However, frequency selectivity testing is not suitable for infants, patients with functional hearing disabilities, and subjects in whom subjective audiometry cannot be satisfactorily performed.