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ORIGINAL ARTICLE
ELECTROPHYSIOLOGICAL MEASURES OF AUDITORY IMPAIRMENT IN NOISE-EXPOSED, NORMAL-HEARING SOLDIERS
1
ENT Department, Yerevan State Medical University, Nairi Medical Center, Yerevan, Armenia
2
Pediatric Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Necker–Enfants Malades Hospital, Paris, France
3
ENT Department, Erebouni Medical Center, Yerevan, Armenia
4
ENT Department, Yerevan State Medical University, Astghik Medical Center, Yerevan, Armenia
5
ENT and Maxilofacial Surgery Department, Heratsi Hospital Complex, Yerevan State Medical University, Yerevan, Armenia
6
ENT Department, Yerevan State Medical University, Yerevan, Armenia
A - Research concept and design; B - Collection and/or assembly of data; C - Data analysis and interpretation; D - Writing the article; E - Critical revision of the article; F - Final approval of article;
Submission date: 2024-01-18
Final revision date: 2024-06-04
Acceptance date: 2024-06-20
Online publication date: 2024-08-01
Publication date: 2024-08-01
Corresponding author
J Hear Sci 2024;14(2):39-45
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Introduction:
Some electrophysiological changes can occur in the auditory system in response to noise exposure with or without any permanent auditory threshold shift. The purpose of this study was to identify and measure cochlear function after noise exposure in individuals with normal hearing according to standard audiometric thresholds.
Material and methods:
Pure tone audiometry (PTA) over the standard 0.250–8 kHz range and at 12 kHz, as well as distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) and auditory brainstem response (ABR) testing, were performed on 42 soldiers who had participated in combat. A control group of 40 participants underwent the same tests.
Results:
In the noise-exposed group, significantly poorer PTA thresholds were recorded at 12 kHz. DPOAE levels were significantly low only at 4 kHz. On ABR testing, both wave I and wave V demonstrated a significant decrease in amplitude and a significant increase in latency for the noise-exposed group.
Conclusions:
Our findings reveal that high levels of noise can not only damage outer hair cells but also cause changes at the level of the synapses (synaptopathy) which are not evident using standard PTA tests. However, electrophysiological methods can detect some changes in cochlear function.
Some electrophysiological changes can occur in the auditory system in response to noise exposure with or without any permanent auditory threshold shift. The purpose of this study was to identify and measure cochlear function after noise exposure in individuals with normal hearing according to standard audiometric thresholds.
Material and methods:
Pure tone audiometry (PTA) over the standard 0.250–8 kHz range and at 12 kHz, as well as distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) and auditory brainstem response (ABR) testing, were performed on 42 soldiers who had participated in combat. A control group of 40 participants underwent the same tests.
Results:
In the noise-exposed group, significantly poorer PTA thresholds were recorded at 12 kHz. DPOAE levels were significantly low only at 4 kHz. On ABR testing, both wave I and wave V demonstrated a significant decrease in amplitude and a significant increase in latency for the noise-exposed group.
Conclusions:
Our findings reveal that high levels of noise can not only damage outer hair cells but also cause changes at the level of the synapses (synaptopathy) which are not evident using standard PTA tests. However, electrophysiological methods can detect some changes in cochlear function.
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