Otoacoustic Emission Suppression Study

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The focus of this project is on a physiologic auditory response called the Medial Olivocochlear Reflex (MOCR) that assesses peripheral neural function. While neural hearing loss is a significant auditory disorder in patients of all ages, more than 50% of newborn infants are screened with a technology that is not sensitive to abnormalities in neural function. The development of a time-efficient and sensitive test system to assess the MOCR will provide significant benefit to infants and patients of all ages with neural deficits who would otherwise go undetected.

Detailed Description
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The objective of this study is to develop an optimized hearing testing method using otoacoustic emissions, that can be used to efficiently assess peripheral neural function (including retrocochlear disorders) using the medial olivocochlear reflex (MOCR). Measuring neural function via the MOCR. This reflex has been shown to be abnormal in patients with neural disorders. The focus of this project will be the development of a screening method that incorporates OAE screening and measurement of the MOCR in the same test procedure. The target population in the proposed research is infants, particularly those in environments where auditory brainstem response (ABR) screening is not performed routinely. Addition of the MOCR to screening where ABR is not performed will address the shortcoming of OAE screening which misses neural forms of hearing loss.

Official Title
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Otoacoustic Emission Suppression in Clinical Populations

Conditions
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Neonatal Hearing Loss

Intervention / Treatment
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* Diagnostic Test: Measurement of Otoacoustic Emissions with and without suppression noise


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Normal middle-ear function Present TEOAEs. Exclusion Criteria: Atresia or other external ear abnormalities not allowing recording of OAEs
Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Newborns<br>Otoacoustic Emissions to be measured with and without suppression noise | Diagnostic Test: Measurement of Otoacoustic Emissions with and without suppression noise<br>* Otoacoustic emissions will be recorded using an ear probe with and without a suppression noise.<br>|
| Newborns failing initial hearing screening test<br>Otoacoustic Emissions to be measured with and without suppression noise | Diagnostic Test: Measurement of Otoacoustic Emissions with and without suppression noise<br>* Otoacoustic emissions will be recorded using an ear probe with and without a suppression noise.<br>|
| Adults with normal hearing<br>Otoacoustic Emissions to be measured with and without suppression noise | Diagnostic Test: Measurement of Otoacoustic Emissions with and without suppression noise<br>* Otoacoustic emissions will be recorded using an ear probe with and without a suppression noise.<br>|
| Adults with hearing loss<br>Otoacoustic Emissions to be measured with and without suppression noise | Diagnostic Test: Measurement of Otoacoustic Emissions with and without suppression noise<br>* Otoacoustic emissions will be recorded using an ear probe with and without a suppression noise.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Otoacoustic Suppression Measure | The amplitude of the otoacoustic emission response will be measured when recorded with and without a suppression noise. | Immediately after the intervention |