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Low-frequency distortion product otoacoustic emissions in two species of kangaroo rats: implications for auditory sensitivity

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Abstract

Low-frequency distortion-product otoacoustic emissions were measured in two species of kangaroo rats to test the prediction that a large footdrumming species (e.g., Dipodomys spectabilis) would have greater distortion-product otoacoustic emission amplitude than a small non-footdrumming species (e.g., Dipodomys merriami), indicating better hearing sensitivity at low frequencies. Equal-level (65 dB SPL) stimulus tones (f 1, f 2), presented over a (f 1) range of 200–1000 Hz, were used to evoke the 2f 1−f 2 distortion-product otoacoustic emission. Mean 2f 1−f 2 levels for D. merriami showed good correspondence to previously published audiograms for that species. Mean 2f 1−f 2 levels and 95% confidence intervals indicated species differences below 400 Hz, supporting the theory that low-frequency hearing sensitivity is better in large kangaroo rat species. These results suggest that the size-related divergence in footdrumming behavior may be related to differential auditory sensitivity.

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Abbreviations

DPOAE:

distortion-product otoacoustic emission

OAE:

otoacoustic emission

PVC:

polyvinyl chloride

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Acknowledgements

This research was approved by the Purdue University Animal Care and Use Committee. Data collection and analysis for this study were completed as part of the requirements for a doctoral dissertation (L.A.S.) at Purdue University and was supported in part by a NIH-NIDCD T32 Training Grant predoctoral fellowship, while the writing of this manuscript was supported by a NIH-NIDCD T32 DC00012 Training Grant postdoctoral fellowship (L.A.S.) at Indiana University. Portions of this paper were presented at the First Conference on Acoustic Communication by Animals, College Park, Maryland, August 2003, and at the 22nd Midwinter Meeting of the Association for Research in Otolaryngology, St. Petersburg, Florida, February 1999. We are truly grateful to Dr. Peter Waser for his help in trapping kangaroo rats, maintaining the animals in colony at Purdue, and for his valuable input to the project and to this manuscript. In addition we would like to thank the following people whose comments have improved the quality of this manuscript, Dr. Larry Humes, Dr. Jennifer Lentz and two anonymous reviewers.

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Author notes

  1. L. A. Shaffer

    Present address: Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology, Arts and Communications Building, AC104, Ball State University, Muncie, IN 47306, USA

  2. G. R. Long

    Present address: Speech and Hearing Sciences Program, Graduate School and University Center, City University of New York, 365 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10016-4309, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Audiology and Speech Sciences, Heavilon Hall, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA

    L. A. Shaffer & G. R. Long

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  1. L. A. Shaffer
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  2. G. R. Long
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Correspondence to L. A. Shaffer.

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Shaffer, L.A., Long, G.R. Low-frequency distortion product otoacoustic emissions in two species of kangaroo rats: implications for auditory sensitivity. J Comp Physiol A 190, 55–60 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00359-003-0471-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00359-003-0471-6

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