Characterization of Acoustic Reflex Latency in Normal-Hearing Subjects

Abstract

Acoustic reflex latency (ARL) has been suggested as an indicator in otoneurological diagnosis. However, limited normative data are available. Conflicting evidence exists regarding the effect of stimulus parameters such as frequency on ARL. In addition, there has been little research investigating the effects of ipsilateral and contralateral stimulation on ARL. In view of these problems, ARL was measured in 30 normal-hearing subjects using 500, 1000, 2000, 4000 Hz tones, low-pass noise, high-pass noise, broadband noise and clicks as activating stimuli. Six parameters of ARL: 10%-on latency, 90%-on latency, 10%-off latency, 90%-off latency, rise time and fall time, were recorded using computerized equipment and analyzed in correlation to the activating frequency and intensity. This study indicated that 500 Hz, 1000 Hz tones, and band noise were more effective in eliciting measurable ARL, whereas 4000 Hz tone and click produced a low percentage of measurable ARL. ARL was shown to increase as the stimulus frequency increased and stimulus intensity decreased. No statistically significant differences were found between the ipsilateral ARL and contralateral ARL.

Acoustic Reflex Latency (ARL) Assessment in Malaysian Adults: The Effects of Age, Gender and Stimulus Frequency

“…This finding is in line with the previous study findings (Narayanan, 2017;Prabhu et al, 2015). However, the ARL values have also been reported to be longer at high frequencies (Clemis and Sarno, 1980;Qiu and Stacker, 1998). The methodological differences between the studies might have contributed to this discrepancy and further large-scale research is essential to verify this issue.…”

“…In line with the outcomes of previous studies, an insignificant ear effect was also noted when the ARL results were compared between left and right ears (Narayanan, 2017;Qiu and Stacker, 1998).…”

The Effect of Contralateral Pure Tones on the Compound Action Potential in Humans: Efferent Tuning Curves

“…Table 1 summarizes the signal level used to record the CAP for each participant. Finally, the possible effect of the acoustic reflexes was reduced because the CAP transient stimuli were much shorter than the clinical acoustic reflexes latency (,100 msec) (Qiu and Stucker, 1997). Also, the maximum signal level of contralateral tones used in this study was 70 dB HL, which is lower than the measured acoustic reflex threshold for all participants.…”

Click evoked middle ear muscle reflex: Spectral and temporal aspectsa)

“…Dallos (1964) reported latencies between 40 and 160 ms for narrowband elicitors monitored using probe tones from 250 to 1500 Hz. Qiu and Stucker (1998) reported mean latencies for various elicitors ranging from 118 ms (SD = 30 ms) for low frequency band noise to the longest at 157 ms (SD = 25 ms) for clicks presented at 50 Hz. However, Neergaard and Rasmussen (1966) reported a median latency of 17 ms when the MEMR magnitude was measured using electromyography.…”