Comparison of distortion product otoacoustic emission amplitude between normal hearing male and female subjects

Abstract EN

Objectives : To compare the distortion product otoacoustic emission amplitudes between normal hearing male and female subjects.

Methods : A total of 20 subjects of both sexes, aged between 18 and 25 years, mean 22 years, were studied.

Inclusion criteria were normal otoscopic and tympanoscopic findings, and pure tone threshold of < 20dB for 500-8000 Hz frequency range.

Each ear of the subjects, i.e.

40 ears, underwent distortion product otoacoustic emission recording at the Audiology Department at King Hussein Medical Centre between January 2012 and January 2013.

The study was approved by the Royal Medical Services ethical committee.

All subjects were not paid or otherwise reimbursed.

Results : Female subjects showed larger and stronger distortion product otoacoustic emission amplitudes’ than in male subjects.

Conclusion : Sex differences in distortion product otoacoustic emissions may be due to anatomical, physiological and health status differences between males and females.