The Hilbert-Huang transform for detection of otoacoustic emissions and time-frequency mapping

This paper presents an application of the Hilbert-Huang transform (HHT) and ensemble correlation for detection of the transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAEs), and high resolution time-frequency mapping. The HHT provides a powerful tool for nonlinear analysis of nonstationary signals such as TEOAEs. Since the HHT itself does not distinguish between signal and noise it was used with ensemble correlation to extract information about intervals with correlated activity. The combination of methods produced good results for both tasks TEOAE detection and time-frequency mapping. The resulting detection performance, using the mean hearing threshold as audiological separation criterion, was a specificity of 81% at a sensitivity of 90% to be compared to 65% with the traditional wave reproducibility detection criterion. High resolution time frequency mapping predicted in more than 70% of the cases hearing loss at a specific frequency in cases of ski-sloping audiograms. The present method does not require a priori information on the signal and may, with minor changes, be successfully applied to analysis of other types of repetitive signals such as evoked potentials

Hearing Loss

Authored by 17 international researchers and research teams, the book provides up-to-date insights on topics in five different research areas related to normal hearing and deafness. Techniques for assessment of hearing and the appropriateness of the Mongolian gerbil as a model for age-dependent hearing loss in humans are presented. Parental attitudes to childhood deafness and role of early intervention for better treatment of hearing loss are also discussed. Comprehensive details are provided on the role of different environmental insults including injuries in causing deafness. Additionally, many genes involved in hearing loss are reviewed and the genetics of recessively inherited moderate to severe and progressive deafness is covered for the first time. The book also details established and evolving therapies for treatment of deafness