ABSTRACT
Perhaps a more useful role for OAEs is monitoring for dynamic changes in cochlear function and ototoxicity (35,39). Noise trauma and ototoxic agents have been shown to affect outer hair cell function in animals. Distortion product OAEs have been shown to correlate well with th~ typical 4000-Hz notch pattern associated with noise-induced hearing loss. OAEs also have been shown to be an early and sensitive indicator of the ototoxic effects of cis-platinum and aminoglycosides. Serial monitoring of OAEs in workers in noisy environments or patients receiving ototoxic agents may provide a simple and objective measure of hearing loss.
