Document Type : Review Articles

Authors

• Farzaneh Zamiri Abdollahi ¹
• Maryam Delphi ²
• Younes Lotfi ³
• Ahmad Reza Nazeri ⁴

¹ PhD Student, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran

² Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation Research Center, Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, PhD Student of University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran Iran

³ Assistant professor, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran

⁴ PhD Student of University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran AND Academic Member, Shahid beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Introduction: From the time of OAEs detection, significant development has been made in the response recording in different clinical populations and for studying cochlea physiology. One of the most important applications of OAEs is studying auditory efferent system. This article includes auditory efferent system, and consequences of its disorder in different clinical populations. Unlike afferent system, there is not a lot of information about efferent system and that has limited clinical application of this wonderful test. Material & Method: This article is based on reviewing 40 comprehensive articles related to OAEs test and efferent suppression. Pubmed, sciencedirect, google scholar and proquest was used for searching articles and comprehensive articles with accurate methodology which included efferent system evaluation in clinical populations, were selected for this review article.     Result: Little information is available about The performance and features of LOCB (Lateral Olivocochlear Bundle). Recently Has been suggested that LOCB is important in establishing and maintaining normal cochlear function. Efferent system as a regulator system, provide the higher centers control of the brain on the active processes of the cochlea (as electromotility OHCs). Also activation of COCB has the anti-masking effect and increases signal to noise ratio in hearing system. Thus improves hearing in the presence of background noise. Conclusion: OAEs is non-invasive, simple and effective for evaluation of cochlea function integrity and contralateral suppression of OAEs is a non-invasive and objective clinical test for evaluation of auditory efferent system and application of this test is growing in patients with hearing disorders. Clinicians with understanding the results of this test in different hearing disorders can help patients in early detection and rehabilitation. Key words: otoacoustic emissions, cochlea, efferent pathways, hearing disorder