PURPOSE: To investigate the inhibitory effect of the efferent auditory path in the variation of the threshold and the latency of ipsilateral acoustic reflex with contralateral stimulation. METHODS: Seventeen male and female patients, with ages between 18 and 30 years and with average normal hearing, were evaluated. After verification of inclusion criteria, the subjects were submitted to acoustic reflex threshold and latency testings, with and without contralateral masking. RESULTS: The latency average rates without contralateral noise at the frequencies 500 Hz, 1000 Hz and 2000 Hz were, respectively, 234,48, 214,96 and 236,71 milliseconds. The latency rates with noise at the same frequencies were 230,74, 214,00 and 232,15 milliseconds. CONCLUSION: The results showed latency decrease and increase on the acoustic reflex thresholds with contralateral white noise suppressor stimulus.
Reflex, acoustic; Reaction time; Afferent pathways; Acoustic stimulation; Ear, middle
