Hydrodynamics of otoacoustic emissions

• Published in: The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America Vol. 108; no. 5_Supplement; p. 2570
• Main Authors: Jaffer, Taha, Kunov, Hans
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01-11-2000
• ISSN: 0001-4966; 1520-8524
• DOI: 10.1121/1.4743546

In this paper, a novel boundary condition for the classical cochlear model will be outlined that allows the realistic simulation of tone-burst transiently evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAEs). OAEs are sounds that are emitted from the inner ear and have been related to hearing function. Classical cochlear models suffer from an inability to realistically simulate OAEs because of the simplistic treatment of the hydrodynamics at the interface between the oval window, stapes, and cochlear fluid. In the classical cochlear model, there are two boundary conditions; the first describes the helicotrema, and the second details how fluid is displaced by the oval window in response to sound entering the ear. In this model, OAE production cannot be simulated because once the stimulating sound is stopped, the oval window is immobile and incapable of transmitting acoustical energy back out of the inner ear. In this paper, this boundary condition will be reconsidered in light of the additional fluid displacement caused by the movement of the cochlear partition. The addition of this boundary condition yields realistic simulations of tone-burst OAEs, both in time evolution and frequency content.