Abstract
Wideband immittance evaluates middle-ear (ME) status, while otoacoustic emissions (OAEs) assess cochlear health. Both stimuli and responses in OAE measurements pass through the ME, thus influencing OAE outcomes. The correlation between ME immittance and high-frequency OAEs is not well-documented. This study examines the relationship between high-frequency distortion-product OAEs (DPOAEs) and wideband absorbance (WBA). We collected WBA and DPOAE data from both ears of 36 individuals over age 18 with normal hearing or conductive hearing loss at the Maryjane Rees Language, Speech, and Hearing Center- Audiology Clinic. Screening audiometry and video otoscopy preceded testing. WBA spanned 107 frequencies (226-8,000 Hz) and DPOAEs across 27 frequencies (500-10,000 Hz) using Interacoustics Titan’s highest frequency resolution. Correlation analysis revealed the strongest correlation at 1,000-2,000 Hz. Asymmetries between left and right ears were quantified for individual WBA, DPOAE, and WBA-DPOAE comparison. This research informs audiologists of potential asymmetry and aids in reducing false-positive in newborn OAE screenings.