The acoustic reflex test in cochlear and eighth nerve pathology ears

Abstract

The clinical interpretation of acoustic reflex test results in ears with sensorineural impairment should be based on a consideration of three characteristics of the response: the reflex threshold hearing level, the reflex threshold sensation level, and the decay of the reflex. Examination of results in 152 ears with cochlear pathology and in 152 ears with acoustic tumor indicated that in some cases the combination of characteristics may be contradictory as to site of lesion. Regarding a contradictory response pattern as questionable — neither confirming nor denying a specific site of lesion — improves the predictive accuracy of the test through a reduction in the number of false identifications.

Decision Matrix and Information Theory Analyses in the Evaluation of Neuroaudiologic Tests

“…The most sensitive (85 to 97 percent) procedures were ABR audiometry, acoustic reflexes, and BCL audiometry. Sensitivity results for BCL audiometry and acoustic reflex measures agree with the findings of most previous investigators (Hayes, 1980;Johnson, 1977;Joseyet al, 1980;Olsen et al, 1975;Sanders et al, 1981;Sheehy and Inzer, 1976;Thomsen and Terkildsen, 1975;Turner, 1981). However, a sensitivity index of 85 percent for acoustic reflexes is less than results (95 to 100 percent) reported by Liden and Korsan-Bengtsen (1973) and by Anderson et al (1970).…”

“…Finally, the remaining diagnostic procedure, PI-PB functions, was of intermediate sensitivity (65 percent). This finding agrees with the results of Liden and Korsan-Bengsten (1975), Jerger and Jerger (1975b), Dirks et al (1977), and Sanders et al (1981). However, Bess et al (1979) and Turner (1981) found a substantially higher sensitivity index (89 to 94 percent) for PI-PB functions in their series of patients.…”

Differentiating the cause of acute sensorineural hearing loss between Ménière's disease and sudden deafness

“…33; GrasonStadler Instruments, Littleton, MA) was used to measure the stapedial reflex threshold. The recruitment phenomenon was defined as being present when the difference between the stapedial reflex and pure-tone thresholds was B/60 dB [8].…”

Acoustic reflex threshold and loudness in patients with unilateral hearing losses

“…It is known that in the case of retrocochlear pathology, no AR or elevated ART ("Metz negative") or no recruitment in loudness function is often observable. A strong correlation between the results of the Metz test and loudness function has been confirmed by many authors [11,17,23]. One possible hypothesis to explain this positive relation between the AR and loudness function might be that some common neuronal informa-9 Fig.…”