title: Influence of drilling on the distortion product otoacoustic emissions in the non-operated ear.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine possible changes in the outer hair cell (OHC) function related to drill noise exposure.
  
  
  METHODS
  Distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE) were measured at frequencies of f(2) = 2, 3, 4 and 5 kHz, and a frequency ratio f(1)/f(2) = 1.22. The f(1) and f(2) levels were delivered at 65 dB SPL. DPOAE amplitudes were compared in 13 patients both before and after mastoidectomy, and between these patients and 5 patients who underwent tympanoplasty.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The DPOAE amplitudes were significantly decreased at 2 and 4 kHz (p = 0.01 and p = 0.013, respectively) immediately after the mastoidectomy, and still differed from the preoperative results at these frequencies on the first post-mastoidectomy day. After the various individual fluctuations, the DPOAE amplitudes remained decreased in some of the patients at the end of the study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Drill-induced noise during mastoidectomy can cause reversible changes in DPOAE in the non-operated ear. OHC function may be diminished during the period after mastoid surgery, and last >1 month.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Sheba Medical Center (affiliated to Sackler School of Medicine), Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel. sabim@bezeqint.net
authors.forename: Lela
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Migirov
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wolf
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D018072:Hair Cells, Auditory, Outer / Q000502:physiology*; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008416:Mastoid / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D009622:Noise / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017084:Otoacoustic Emissions, Spontaneous; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020127:Recovery of Function; D013525:Surgical Instruments; D014433:Tympanoplasty / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D014732:Vibration; D055815:Young Adult