Event:

In response to low-frequency sound at high intensities, inner ears of humans and guinea pigs undergo temporary sensitivity changes. Indices for those typically cyclic sensitivity changes, known in the literature as Bounce phenomenon, are alterations of hearing threshold and changes in level of otoacoustic emissions.

In the present study, we investigated the impact of intense low-frequency sound on another mammalian species with rather low-frequency hearing and particularly large otoacoustic emissions, the Mongolian gerbil.

Otoacoustic emissions were recorded after low-frequency sound exposure in young gerbils (2-5 months). Exposure times of the intense low-frequency sound (200 Hz, 100 dB SPL) were varied between a few seconds up to one hour. With regards to the different exposure times, we were particularly interested in whether and when temporary sensitivity changes (Bounce phenomenon) transitioned into a permanent damage of the inner ear.