Complex level alterations of the 2f1-f2 distortion product due to hypoxia

The observations made here have been described similarly in animal studies and seem to be characteristic of metabolic disorders of the cochlea caused by hypoxia. To our knowledge, this is the first study to examine DPOAE level alterations over time in humans under conditions of normobaric hypoxia. If DPOAE destabilization is observed in a clinical setting in patients with certain inner ear hearing disorders hypoxia can be suspected as one underlying pathophysiological cause which might influence treatment decisions.