title: The effect of impulse noise on distortion product otoacoustic emissions.
abstract: The aim of this study was the evaluation of distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) before and after noise exposure from shooting, and the comparison of DPOAEs with pure-tone audiometry. Thirteen young male police officers were exposed to impulse noise from shooting, without using earplugs. Standard pure-tone audiometry, tympanometry, and DPOAEs were performed before exposure and at one hour post- and 24 hour post-exposure. In the one hour post-exposure testing mean pure-tone thresholds were elevated in the 1-8 kHz frequency zone and DPOAE levels were reduced at several frequencies. DPOAEs were more affected at 3 kHz or lower, whereas pure-tone thresholds were more affected at higher frequencies. After the final examination, non-significant partial shifts at high frequencies on both tests remained. Pure-tone audiometry was overall more sensitive, but DPOAEs provided additional information about the cochlear status of certain ears. These data suggest that besides behavioral testing, DPOAEs may play a role as a fast, objective, and easy to perform test for monitoring subjects exposed to impulse noise.
authors.affiliation: ENT Department, Tzanion General Hospital of Piraeus, Piraeus, Greece. balats@panafonet.gr
authors.forename: Dimitrios G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Balatsouras
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tsimpiris
authors.forename: Stavros
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Korres
authors.forename: Ilias
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Karapantzos
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Papadimitriou
authors.forename: Vassilis
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Danielidis
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone / Q000379:methods; D001309:Auditory Threshold / Q000502:physiology; D006317:Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009622:Noise / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017084:Otoacoustic Emissions, Spontaneous / Q000502:physiology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index