Transient Abnormalities in Masking Tuning Curve in Early Progressive Hearing Loss Mouse Model

Figure 3

Relationships between ABR and DPOAE thresholds and MTC at high frequencies. Scatterplots of the individual DPOAE thresholds as a function of ABR thresholds at 32 kHz (a). Diagonal line: DPOAE and ABR thresholds are equal. Red symbols and red MTC correspond to individual with only slight increase in ABR thresholds (≤35 dB) but increase of DPOAE thresholds ≥40 dB or nonrecordable DPOAE (NR). The shaded areas correspond to the thresholds for which it is thought that OHCs have lost their function as they do not either generate gain, hence a 60 dB ABR threshold elevation, or emit distortion products. Individual masking tuning curves are presented for a probe tone at 10 kHz (b) and 32 kHz (c). Different symbols for different ages (see keys in (a)). Different lines for different MTC profiles (see keys in (c)).