A systematic review of stimulus parameters for eliciting distortion product otoacoustic emissions from adult humans

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study is to review the scientific literature to determine if a set of stimulus parameters can be described to elicit distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) of higher absolute level and/or greater reliability in healthy adult humans and higher sensitivity and specificity in adults with cochlear lesions. Design: Systematic review. Study sample: Searches of four electronic databases yielded 47 studies that had used different parameters to elicit DPOAEs from within or between-groups of adult humans. Results: The wide range of stimulus parameters used in the reviewed studies saw a wide range of reported values for DPOAE level, reliability, and sensitivity and specificity to cochlear lesions. Conclusion: The most commonly used stimulus parameters for eliciting DPOAEs from adult humans have included frequency ratios for the two primary tones (f₂/f₁) of between 1.04 and 1.4 and levels (L₁/L₂) of 65/55 dB SPL. The most commonly used parameters for eliciting DPOAEs of higher level in healthy adults appear to be linked to f₂/f₁ values between 1.20 and 1.22 and L₁/L₂ levels of 75/75 dB SPL. The stimulus parameters for eliciting DPOAEs of greater reliability in healthy adults and higher sensitivity and specificity in adults with cochlear lesions have yet to be clearly determined.

Keywords:

• Distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs)
• stimulus parameters
• systematic review
• evidence-based practice
• adults

Declaration of interest

National Research Foundation Thuthuka Grant TTK20110824000025642; University of Cape Town University Research Committee.