Evaluation of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders by Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emission

Objective: The aim of this study is to examine whether the overreaction of children diagnosed with autism according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders to auditory stimuli is related to the sensory mechanism in the cochlea. Methods: Twenty healthy children with normal hearing and 20 children with autism aged 6-17 years participated in our study. Right and left ears of both healthy and autistic children were evaluated separately. Signal-to-noise ratios and amplitude values (lambda) were measured at 1000, 1500, 2000, 3000, 4000, and 6000 Hz. Results: In the distortion product otoacoustic emission test, signal-to-noise ratios at 3000, 4000, and 6000 Hz and amplitude values at 4000 and 6000 Hz were higher than the control group of individuals with autism (P < .05). Conclusion: The results of the study suggest that children with autism may have hyperacusis originating from the inner ear. However, it has been stated in the literature that central auditory pathways and medial olivocochlear system discrepancies may also cause hyperacusis. Studies evaluating both the entire auditory system and the limbic system are needed.