Abstract

HINALAF, María et al. Auditory risk behaviors and the action of cochlear protection mechanism in adolescent. Interdisciplinaria [online]. 2017, vol.34, n.2, pp.327-349. ISSN 1668-7027.

Non-occupational exposure to noise, such as loud music sound level is an increasing risk factor for hearing loss in adolescents. International studies propose that an important function of the medial efferent system (MES) is protect the inner ear against noise by a reflex mechanism and can be evaluated through Contralateral Suppression (CS) of transient otoacoustic emissions (TEOAEs) to analyzing the presence or absence of suppressive effect. The absence of suppressive effect is considered a possible alteration of the MES and the role it exerts on the regulation of the outer hair cells. The underlying mechanism of this phenomenon is not known totality and the background about this topic are limited. However, researches suggests that MES would have an important role in protection against acoustic overstimulation under the hypothesis that a hearing with the presence of suppressive effect would tend to be more protected against exposure to high noise levels while ears with no effect suppressor may be more vulnerable to noise exposure. In this research the relationship between the General Exposure to Music (MGE), the state of hearing function and cochlear protection mechanism were analyzed in 91 adolescents with 14/15 years old, with male predominance, of two technical schools of the city of Córdoba (Argentina). Were evaluated the following dimensions: (a) Psychosocial: MGE through an Out of School Activities Questionnaire to know in detail the participation in five recreational activities to finally analyze the MGE and (b) Audiological: assessment of audiometric profiles, as a subjective method, by audiometry in the conventional frequency ranges (250-8000) Hz and an extended high frequency audiometry (8000-16000) Hz; function of MES assessment, objective method, through CS of TEOAEs to determine the presence or absence of suppressive effect. The study CS of TEOAEs consisted of two steps: Step 1, application of TEOAEs of an ear in form ipsilateral without acoustic stimulation in the contralateral ear (CAS) and Step 2, application of TEOAEs in the ear ipsilateral while applying CAS. Was considered presence of suppressive effect when there was a reduction in the response after the CAS that is to say when the difference of values obtained in the total response with and without CAS was positive. At the same time, was considered absence of suppressive effect in cases of maintained or increased the response after the CAS, obtaining a value of zero or negative. The results of the research showed that in the group with presence of suppressive effect the most of ears is among moderate and high categories of MGE with a lower average magnitude of suppressive effect and a decreased amplitude of the total response in the high category of MGE than the media category. Regarding audiometry the ears with presence of suppressive effect showed higher magnitude in the group of normal hearing thresholds compared with the group of descended hearing thresholds. The results related to CS of the TEOAEs statistically did not influence in the audiometric profiles and the exposure categories. However the results of the CS were oriented towards the smaller magnitude of suppressive effect, decreased total response related with the descended hearing thresholds and high and low categories of MGE. It is necessary to promote and intensify researches in relation to the auditory risk behaviors together with the protection mechanism of MES. In this way, more researches can contribute to the early identification of hearing sensitivity in adolescents exposed to non-occupational noise. It is important to implement a Psycho-Auditory Screening to collaborate in the prevention and promotion of hearing health.

Keywords : Musical general exposure; Auditory risk behaviors; Medial efferent system; Cochlear protection mechanism; Contralateral suppression of the transient otoacoustic emissions; Adolescents.

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