A clinical study on the growth of distortion product otoacoustic emissions and hearing loss at 2 kHz in humans.

Growth of distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE's) at 2 kHz was recorded in 380 human ears with different degrees of hearing loss. Using multiple linear regression analysis, the effect of hearing loss, sex and age on amplitudes and growth rate was evaluated. Hearing loss accounted for approximately one-fifth of the variation in maximum level of DPs and approximately one-fourth of variation in DP threshold. The effect of age was small, but significant. Hearing loss above and below 2 kHz did not influence various DP parameters. Growth rate was generally different for the high and low input level, but correlation was low with age and hearing loss. Various DPOAE response parameters produce too low values of sensitivity and specificity to be used as a predictor for hearing loss at 2 kHz.