Abstract
People with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) frequently show the symptoms of oversensitivity to sound (hyperacusis). Although the previous studies have investigated methods for quantifying hyperacusis in ASD, appropriate physiological signs for quantifying hyperacusis in ASD remain poorly understood. Here, we investigated the relationship of loudness tolerance with the threshold of the stapedial reflex and with contralateral suppression of the distortion product otoacoustic emissions, which has been suggested to be related to hyperacusis in people without ASD. We tested an ASD group and a neurotypical group. The results revealed that only the stapedial reflex threshold was significantly correlated with loudness tolerance in both groups. In addition to reduced loudness tolerance, people with lower stapedial reflex thresholds also exhibited higher scores on the Social Responsiveness Scale-2.
Highlights
Hyperacusis is a disorder characterized by excessive responses to auditory stimulation
We examined whether the stapedial reflex (SR) threshold or DPOAE suppression was correlated with the hyperacusis index
We examined whether inner ear function could explain hyperacusis in autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
Summary
Hyperacusis is a disorder characterized by excessive responses to auditory stimulation. The threshold of this reflex has been reported to be lower in people with a relatively weak tolerance for loud noise (McCandless and Miller 1972; Greenberg and Mcloed 1979; Olsen 1999; AlAzazi and Othman 2000), several previous studies have not supported this relationship (Denenberg and Altshuler 1976; Holmes and Woodford 1977; Ritter et al 1979) This discrepancy can be explained by inconsistent factors in experimental design, such as the stimuli used or the hearing function of the participants (Al-Azazi and Othman 2000). While the mechanisms underlying this excessive DPOAE suppression are unknown, these results suggest that inner ear function can predict hyperacusis
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
