What does abnormal acoustic reflex mean?

The objective finding is an abnormal growth of response with sound level. Typically the stapedius reflex is triggered by sound levels 60 dB louder than the hearing threshold. Thus, when the hearing thresholds are raised and yet the stapedius reflex is recruited at only 30–40 dB above, recruitment is identified.

What is meant by acoustic reflex?

What is the acoustic reflex? The acoustic reflex is the contraction of the stapedius muscle elicited by the presentation of an acoustically loud sound. When either ear is presented with a loud sound, the stapedius muscles on both sides contract.

What do the two middle ear reflexes do?

Based on this finding, two major functions of the stapedius reflexes have been proposed, Attenuation of acoustic energy reaching the cochlea through the modulation of middle ear impedance (Borg, 1971; Moller, 1974) and.

What causes an acoustic reflex and which muscle is responsible for it?

This reflex, sometimes referred to as the acoustic reflex, is a contraction of the stapedial muscle in the middle ear, which is elicited by high-level sounds, especially those of low frequency.

How does the attenuation reflex protect the ear?

The attenuation reflex protects the ears from loud or damaging sounds, enjances high frequency sound in an environment of low frequency sound, suppresses the apparent loudness of our own voice. This is doens by two muscle that attach the the ossicles, the tensor tympani and the stapedius. Loud sounds cause these muscles to contracts,…

Where does the acoustic reflex take place in the ear?

An acoustic reflex is a type of muscle contraction that takes place in the ear. More specifically, this uncontrollable muscle movement occurs in the middle ear when the area is stimulated by a high intensity sound. It may also be known as the attenuation reflex, the auditory reflex, or the stapedius reflex.

When does conductive hearing loss cause absent reflexes?

A conductive hearing loss results in absent reflexes when the affected ear is stimulated, as sound will not be loud enough to stimulate the reflex. Even when the normal ear is stimulated, the ear with the conductive loss does not have a reflex, as the middle ear condition prevents the stapedius from contracting. 10

Which is an involuntary muscle contraction in the middle ear?

The acoustic reflex (also known as the stapedius reflex, middle-ear-muscles (MEM) reflex, attenuation reflex, or auditory reflex) is an involuntary muscle contraction that occurs in the middle ear in response to high-intensity sound stimuli or when the person starts to vocalize.