Distortion-product otoacoustic emissions in schoolchildren: effects of ear asymmetry, handedness, and gender.
The present study examined effects of ear asymmetry, handedness, and gender on distortion-product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) obtained from schoolchildren. A total of 1003 children (528 boys and 475 girls), with a mean age of 6.2 years (SD = 0.4, range = 5.2-7.9 years), were tested in a quiet room at their schools using the GSI-60 DPOAE system. A distortion-product (DP)-gram was obtained for each ear, with f2 varying from 1.1 to 6.0 kHz and the ratio of f2/f1 at 1.21. The signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) (DPOAE amplitude minus the mean noise floor) at the tested frequencies 1.1, 1.5, 1.9, 2.4, 3.0, 3.8, 4.8, and 6.0 kHz were measured. The results revealed a small but significant difference in SNR between ears, with right ears showing a higher mean SNR than left ears at 1.9, 3.0, 3.8, and 6.0 kHz. At these frequencies, the difference in mean SNR between ears was less than 1 dB. A significant gender effect was also found. Girls exhibited a higher SNR than boys at 3.8, 4.8, and 6.0 kHz. The difference in mean SNR, as a result of the gender effect, was about 1 to 2 dB at these frequencies. There was no significant difference in mean SNR between left-handed and right-handed children for all tested frequencies.
Keogh
T
T
Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Australia.
Kei
J
J
Driscoll
C
C
Smyth
V
V
D000158:Acoustic Impedance Tests; D000161:Acoustic Stimulation / Q000295:instrumentation; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003051:Cochlea / Q000502:physiology; D004423:Ear / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology*; D006311:Hearing Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D017084:Otoacoustic Emissions, Spontaneous / Q000502:physiology*; D012737:Sex Factors