Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

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Open Access Thesis

Keywords

Deafness, Noise induced--Physiological aspects; Physical fitness;

Abstract

Recent research suggests that physical fitness level may influence hearing sensitivity to noise (Ismail et al., 1973; Manson, Alessio, Huchinson, & Cristell, 1992). Frequency-specific changes in hearing acuity resulting from noise overexposure have been detected in human subjects using distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE) (Whitehead, Lonsbury-Martin, & Martin, 1992). A decrease in DPOAE amplitude was reported at frequencies at which behavioral thresholds were reduced following a noise exposure (Harris, 1990; Lonsbury-Martin & Martin, 1990; Martin, Probst, & Lonsbury-Martin, 1990). The purposes of this study were to: 1. Examine the relationship between physical fitness level and susceptibility to a temporary noise-induced hearing loss. 2. Determine if DPOAE measurements with the CUBDIS system accurately reflect changes in hearing thresholds following exposure to noise. Eighteen college-aged students were categorized by fitness level based on aerobic capacity (V02max), percentage of body fat, and aerobic activity level. Behavioral audiometric thresholds and DPOAE measurements were obtained prior to and following exposure to 10 minutes of narrow-band noise centered at 2000 Hz. Pre- and post-noise exposure results were compared and analyzed examining changes in hearing sensitivity following the noise exposure. Data analysis revealed that subjects classified as high fit exhibited less of a temporary threshold shift (TTS) than the moderate-to-low fit subjects. A statistically significant difference in TTS was obtained at 3000 Hz between the groups, and a moderate negative correlation was found between VO2maxand TTS at 3000 Hz. All of these results suggest that physical fitness level does influence TTS susceptibility and that as fitness level decreases, degree of TTS increases. A low correlation was found between the TTS and DPOAE data. Of the methods used to calculate DPOAE shift following noise exposure, changes in DPOAE amplitude between 2000 Hz and 4000 Hz seemed to be the most reflective of changes in behavioral thresholds at 3000 Hz. The CUBDIS DPOAE system did detect changes in hearing thresholds following noise exposure, however, the low correlations and extreme variability within subjects imply that further research is needed prior to routine clinical implementation of the system.

Year of Submission

1992

Degree Name

Master of Arts

Department

Department of Communicative Disorders

First Advisor

Joseph Smaldino

Second Advisor

Bruce Plakke

Third Advisor

Fred Kolkhorst

Comments

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Date Original

1992

Object Description

1 PDF file (77 leaves)

Language

en

File Format

application/pdf

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