Spontaneous and transient evoked otoacoustic emissions: A racial comparison

Abstract

This study compared otoacoustic emissions (OAEs) between Chinese and Caucasian subjects. Two kinds of OAEs were measured: spontaneous otoacoustic emissions (SOAEs) and transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAEs). Both ears in 40 Chinese and 20 Caucasian young adults were examined. Within each racial group, equal numbers of normal hearing males and females were tested. Analysis of prevalence and amplitude distribution of both SOAEs and TEOAEs did not reveal any statistically significant racial differences. However, comparisons of the frequency distributions for both kinds of OAEs revealed significant findings between the two samples studied. Results showed that both SOAE and TEOAE measurements from Chinese subjects had comparatively higher responses in the high frequencies than those from Caucasian subjects. The findings are discussed in term of the reverse-transmission characteristics of the middle-ear conduction mechanism and/or possible cochlear differences between the two racial groups.