Recreational Noise Exposure Effects on Electrocochleography in Young Adults Shannon O’Donnell

Learning Outcomes (1) Determine the subjective and objective personal music system listening habits of young adults. (2) Evaluate how self-reported volume use affects electrocochleography (ECochG) measures. (3) Evaluate the effects of preferred listening level, in dBA, measured with a probe microphone, on ECochG measures.

Study Sample Volunteer young adults (n=19, 17 women and 2 men), between 18-34 years old (mean=21.4 years; SD=3.3 years) Recruited as part of a larger study on the effects of recreational noise exposure on the auditory system

Procedures Survey Otoscopy and Tympanometry Pure-tone air-conduction thresholds ECochG data were obtained using clicks presented at 90 dB HL and at a rate of 7.1/sec. Two or three sweeps of 1000 clicks were used to confirm reliability of waveforms. Probe microphone was placed within 4-6mm of the tympanic membrane to calculate preferred listening level in each person

What is Electrocochleography 2 gold foil electrodes in the ear canal 1 gold cup electrode on the forehead Clicks were presented and averaged 3 measures were obtained Base Summating Potential (SP) Action Potential (AP)

Outcome Variables AP Latency AP Amplitude SP/AP Ratio

All Participants Table 1. Means (standard deviations [SD]), minimums, and maximums are shown for AP latency, in msec, AP amplitude, in µV, and SP/AP ratio.

Can Hear/Cannot Hear Make sure to mention significance Explain why it is Can Hear/Cannot Hear (survey)

High Risk/Low Risk - Make sure to explain why it is called High Risk/Low Risk – based off of >85dBA - Explain Sig Diff

Conclusions One of the few studies where the association between recreational noise exposure and neural function has been evaluated This was a pilot study, currently collecting more data AP latency was significantly shorter for those that reported Cannot Hear and those that listened at a High Risk AP amplitude was larger for those that reported Cannot Hear and those that listened at a High Risk, but these differences were not statistically significant

A portion of this research was supported by the San Diego State University Summer Undergraduate Research Program and Associated Students: Student Success Fee Award. Thank you to the students who volunteered their time to participate in this lab. Thank you to Dr. Peter Torre III!

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