Relative changes in the cochlear summating potentials to paired-clicks predict speech-in-noise perception and subjective hearing acuity

Abstract

Objective assays of human cochlear synaptopathy (CS) have been challenging to develop. Its suspected if relative summating potential (SP) changes are different in CS listeners. In this proof-of-concept study, young, normal-hearing adults were recruited and assigned to a low/high-risk group for having CS based on their audiograms at 9-16 kHz. SPs to paired-clicks with varying inter-click intervals isolated non-refractory receptor components of cochlear activity. Abrupt increases in SPs to paired- vs. single-clicks were observed in high-risk listeners. Critically, overexaggerated SPs predicted speech-in-noise and subjective hearing abilities, suggesting relative SP changes to rapid clicks might help identify putative synaptopathic listeners.