BACKGROUND/AIMS:

Noise causes damage to cochlear hair cells and loss of sensitivity at low volume sounds. Hidden hearing loss is a functional disorder that can be seen in individuals with noise exposure history but no permanent threshold loss. We aimed to determine which tests can be used to diagnose hidden hearing loss in the dental prosthesis associate degree students with normal hearing who are exposed to noise.

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

Ninety individuals between the ages of 19-35 whose pure tone average is within normal limits were included in our study. These individuals were divided into two groups according to the noise exposure score as high-risk group (n=45) and low-risk group (n=45). Auditory brainstem response (ABR) and amplitude modulation detection tests were performed with and without background noise after standard audiometric tests and otoacoustic emission suppression measurement.

RESULTS:

The otoacoustic emission suppression values of individuals with high-risk group were found significantly lower than those with low-risk group. As the stimulus level increased, the differentiations (amplitude increase and latency decrease) in the first wave of ABR without background noise were observed in individuals with the low-risk group. The recognition threshold score which was modulated to the amplitude was found to be lower in the presence of background noise than in the absence of background noise for all participants.

CONCLUSION:

Although noise exposure does not result in any permanent differences in hearing thresholds, the otoacoustic emission suppression values, the differentiations of the first wave and the amplitude modulation detection values can provide useful information in the diagnosis of hidden hearing loss in individuals with normal hearing.

Keywords: Hidden hearing loss, auditory brainstem response, otoacoustic emission suppression, amplitude modulation detection