Objective: To probe into the application of distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) test in human sensory hearing loss (SHL) research using lower stimulus parameter L1 = 65 dB, L2 = 50 dB.
Methods: Elicitation rate, size of DPOAE and correlation between DPOAE and pure tone auditory threshold were analyzed, and then the sensitivity and specificity were calculated.
Results: DPOAE was elicited in all of the hearing normal controls (25 subjects, 50 ears). In SHL cases (40 patients, 53 ears), DPOAE was elicited in 51 ears at 4 kHz and 6 kHz, and in 53 ears at 1 kHz and 2 kHz. The DPOAE size at each frequency in the normal group was higher than that in the SHL group (P < 0.05). A negative correlation between DPOAE size and pure tone auditory threshold was revealed by means of Spearman rank sum test. The sensitivity and specificity of DPOAE for testing SHL were better than those in literature reports.
Conclusion: The DPOAE elicited by lower stimulus parameter mainly reflects the function of outer hair cells of inner ear, and thus it may provide some guidance or information for clinical diagnosis and treatment of SHL.