The auditory sensitization, a tool used in the research of the acoustic reflex, allows the decrease of the acoustic reflex threshold from a facilitating stimulus. It may be presented before or simultaneously at the elicitor tone. The thresholds after and before the facilitating stimulus are compared and it is expected to get the decrease of the threshold. From the study of the acoustic reflex it is possible to get much information about the auditory pathways, like structures of the brainstem, since the acoustic reflex pathway is related to the auditory nuclei in this site. They are also involved in the auditory processing. Thus, alterations of the acoustic reflex could be reported to deficits in auditory processing abilities. AIM: This study aims to research the acoustic reflex sensitization from a high-frequency facilitating tone (6 KHz) STUDY DESIGN: Clinical study with transversal cohort. MATERIAL AND METHOD: normal hearing young women. RESULTS:The acoustic reflex threshold decreased between 6,71 and 17,23 dB in the ears that presented sensitization. CONCLUSION: A high-frequency facilitating tone presented simultaneously produces a decrease of the acoustic reflex threshold in normal hearing people.
acoustic reflex; auditory sensitization; facilitating stimulus; normal hearing
