Abstract
Objective assays of human cochlear synaptopathy have been equivocal. We posited relative changes in the cochlear summating potential (SP) may offer a superior biomarker for synaptic integrity. We recruited young, normal-hearing adults assigned to low- vs. high-risk groups based on their extended high-frequency (9-16 kHz) audiograms. SPs to paired-clicks with varying inter-click intervals isolated non-refractory receptor components of cochlear activity. We observed abrupt increases in SPs to paired- vs. single-clicks in high-risk listeners. Critically overexaggerated SP amplitudes also predicted speech-in-noise and subjective hearing abilities, suggesting relative SP changes to rapid clicks might help identify putative synaptopathic listeners with speech-listening difficulties.
Competing Interest Statement
The authors have declared no competing interest.
Footnotes
jesyin.v{at}gmail.com, gbidel{at}indiana.edu
↵a) School of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN, 38152, USA