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Tympanic pressure gradients and otoacoustic emissions

Konradsson, Konrad LU ; Svensson, Owe ; Carlborg, Björn LU and Grenner, Jan LU (1999) In Ear and Hearing 20(5). p.403-403
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the immediate effects of tympanic over- and under-pressure, induced by variations in ambient pressure on click-evoked otoacoustic emissions (CEOAEs) in healthy individuals. It was of particular interest to elucidate whether changes in the CEOAE response in both spectral and time domains could be attributed not only to tympanic, but also to cochlear influence. DESIGN: Nine healthy subjects with normal hearing and middle ear pressure were exposed to ambient pressure changes in a pressure chamber. The pressure was progressively changed in 100 daPa steps to accomplish an increase and a decrease in tympanic pressure. Pressure equilibration of the middle ear was avoided. The relative... (More)
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the immediate effects of tympanic over- and under-pressure, induced by variations in ambient pressure on click-evoked otoacoustic emissions (CEOAEs) in healthy individuals. It was of particular interest to elucidate whether changes in the CEOAE response in both spectral and time domains could be attributed not only to tympanic, but also to cochlear influence. DESIGN: Nine healthy subjects with normal hearing and middle ear pressure were exposed to ambient pressure changes in a pressure chamber. The pressure was progressively changed in 100 daPa steps to accomplish an increase and a decrease in tympanic pressure. Pressure equilibration of the middle ear was avoided. The relative tympanic over- and under-pressure (+/- 320daPa) was monitored by tympanometry and the CEOAEs recorded at every step of tympanic pressure change. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant reduction of the otoacoustic emission (OAE) response levels and reproducibility already at 100 daPa of ambient pressure change. The OAE response was progressively reduced by increased pressure gradients. The CEOAEs recorded during progressive tympanic over- and under-pressure also had increasingly shorter latencies. These changes of the OAE response characteristics were most pronounced in the 750 to 3000 Hz frequency bands. CONCLUSIONS: The progressive attenuation of the OAE response and the concomitant shortening of the OAE response latencies were observed during a combination of altered middle and inner ear pressure. Although the middle and inner ear influence cannot be separated we suggest, based on our findings, that the shortening of latencies may partly be caused by inner ear pressure changes and stiffening of the labyrinthine membranes. Further studies are needed to more specifically clarify the relative contribution of the tympanic and labyrinthine influence, respectively, for the various aspects of pressure influence on the OAE response. (Less)
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author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Ear and Hearing
volume
20
issue
5
pages
403 - 403
publisher
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
external identifiers
  • pmid:10526862
  • scopus:0032846689
ISSN
1538-4667
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
The information about affiliations in this record was updated in December 2015. The record was previously connected to the following departments: Reconstructive Surgery (013240300), Otorhinolaryngology (Lund) (013044000)
id
8ef22973-d7bc-47c8-a2db-9658aad9506e (old id 1114970)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 11:41:09
date last changed
2022-01-26 08:44:51
@article{8ef22973-d7bc-47c8-a2db-9658aad9506e,
  abstract     = {{OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the immediate effects of tympanic over- and under-pressure, induced by variations in ambient pressure on click-evoked otoacoustic emissions (CEOAEs) in healthy individuals. It was of particular interest to elucidate whether changes in the CEOAE response in both spectral and time domains could be attributed not only to tympanic, but also to cochlear influence. DESIGN: Nine healthy subjects with normal hearing and middle ear pressure were exposed to ambient pressure changes in a pressure chamber. The pressure was progressively changed in 100 daPa steps to accomplish an increase and a decrease in tympanic pressure. Pressure equilibration of the middle ear was avoided. The relative tympanic over- and under-pressure (+/- 320daPa) was monitored by tympanometry and the CEOAEs recorded at every step of tympanic pressure change. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant reduction of the otoacoustic emission (OAE) response levels and reproducibility already at 100 daPa of ambient pressure change. The OAE response was progressively reduced by increased pressure gradients. The CEOAEs recorded during progressive tympanic over- and under-pressure also had increasingly shorter latencies. These changes of the OAE response characteristics were most pronounced in the 750 to 3000 Hz frequency bands. CONCLUSIONS: The progressive attenuation of the OAE response and the concomitant shortening of the OAE response latencies were observed during a combination of altered middle and inner ear pressure. Although the middle and inner ear influence cannot be separated we suggest, based on our findings, that the shortening of latencies may partly be caused by inner ear pressure changes and stiffening of the labyrinthine membranes. Further studies are needed to more specifically clarify the relative contribution of the tympanic and labyrinthine influence, respectively, for the various aspects of pressure influence on the OAE response.}},
  author       = {{Konradsson, Konrad and Svensson, Owe and Carlborg, Björn and Grenner, Jan}},
  issn         = {{1538-4667}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{5}},
  pages        = {{403--403}},
  publisher    = {{Lippincott Williams & Wilkins}},
  series       = {{Ear and Hearing}},
  title        = {{Tympanic pressure gradients and otoacoustic emissions}},
  volume       = {{20}},
  year         = {{1999}},
}