The acoustic reflex threshold in aging ears

Abstract

This study investigates the controversy regarding the influence of age on the acoustic reflex threshold for broadband noise, 500-, 1000-, 2000-, and 4000-Hz activators between Jerger et al. [Mono. Contemp. Audiol. 1 (1978)] and Jerger [J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 66 (1979)] on the one hand and Silman [J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 66 (1979)] and others on the other. The acoustic reflex thresholds for broadband noise, 500-, 1000-, 2000-, and 4000-Hz activators were evaluated under two measurement conditions. Seventy-two normal-hearing ears were drawn from 72 subjects ranging in age from 20-69 years. The results revealed that age was correlated with the acoustic reflex threshold for BBN activator but not for any of the tonal activators; the correlation was stronger under the 1-dB than under the 5-dB measurement condition. Also, the mean acoustic reflex thresholds for broadband noise activator were essentially similar to those reported by Jerger et al. (1978) but differed from those obtained in this study under the 1-dB measurement condition.

Identificação de sentenças sintéticas (SSI) e reflexo acústico contralateral

“…We observed that the average of the contralateral acoustic reflex thresholds from 500 to 4000Hz of group A individuals were very similar for the right and left ears ( Table 2). The mean values for the frequencies of 500 to 4000Hz are lower than the results found by Silverman, Silman and Miller (1983) who found an average for both ears of 95,1dBHL,93,4dBHL,95,9dBHL and 95,7dBHL in the frequencies of 500 to 4000Hz. On the other hand, our results are similar to the ones obtained by Hall and Weaver (1979), where the mean values were 90dBHL, 89dBHL, 89dBHL and 90dBHL for both ears.…”

Aging of the medial olivocochlear reflex and associations with speech perception

“…Some of these early studies reported that aging (in older individuals with normal audiometric thresholds) produced elevated stapedius muscle thresholds elicited by broadband noise (Silman, 1979;Gelfand and Piper, 1981;Silverman et al, 1983). Others found no such age-related elevation in MEM reflex thresholds or even reported decreases in middle ear muscle threshold in a group of elderly individuals (Jerger et al, 1978;Jerger, 1979).…”

Future Perspectives in Hearing and Aging: Clinical and Research Needs

“…Reflex growth does appear to be affected by age (Silman, 1984;Silman and Gelfand, 1981b) and should be considered in clinical applications. Acoustic reflex thresholds do not appear to be age related for tones but are for broadband stimuli (Jerger, Jerger, and Mauldin, 1972;Handler and Margolis, 1977;Silman, 1979;Gelfand andPiper, 1981, 1984;Silverman, Silman and Miller, 1983;Gelfand, 1984). However, there are some conflicting reports (Jepsen, 1963;Jerger et al, 1978).…”