Middle Ear Muscle Reflex and Word Recognition in "Normal-Hearing" Adults: Evidence for Cochlear Synaptopathy?
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Mepani AM
PROVIDER: S-EPMC6934902 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jan/Feb
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Publications
Middle Ear Muscle Reflex and Word Recognition in "Normal-Hearing" Adults: Evidence for Cochlear Synaptopathy?
Mepani Anita M AM Kirk Sarah A SA Hancock Kenneth E KE Bennett Kara K de Gruttola Victor V Liberman M Charles MC Maison Stéphane F SF
Ear and hearing 20200101 1
<h4>Objectives</h4>Permanent threshold elevation after noise exposure, ototoxic drugs, or aging is caused by loss of sensory cells; however, animal studies show that hair cell loss is often preceded by degeneration of synapses between sensory cells and auditory nerve fibers. The silencing of these neurons, especially those with high thresholds and low spontaneous rates, degrades auditory processing and may contribute to difficulties in understanding speech in noise. Although cochlear synaptopath ...[more]
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