Relationship between two measures of cochlear function : otoacoustic emission amplitude and short increment sensitivity index

Abstract

Both otoacoustic emissions (OAEs) and the short increment sensitivity index (SISI) are two tests addressing cochlear function and the present study investigated the possible relationship between OAE amplitudes and SISI test scores. Thirty normal hearing females aged between 18 and 26 years old were recruited in the study. Measurements of spontaneous otoacoustic emissions (SOAEs), transient-evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAEs), distortion-product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) and SISI test measures with carrier tone at 1 kHz were conducted for all subjects. Subjects with lower TEOAE and DPOAE amplitudes had significantly higher SISI test scores at some measured OAE frequencies around the carrier tone frequency. On the other hand, subjects with lower DPOAE amplitudes had significantly lower SISI test scores at some measured DPOAE frequencies in the high-frequency region. The results suggest the need for further investigation of potential relationships of OAE amplitudes and SISI test performance, conducted with carrier tones over a range of frequencies and with a larger sample size.