Effect of alcohol on acoustic reflex relaxation Free

The Reflex Relaxation Index (RRI) was introduced by Norris et al. [Arch. Otolaryngol. 99, 194–97 (1974)] as an objective test for sensorineural hearing loss. The test consists of measuring the acoustic reflex response to pulsed pure tone stimuli. Sensorineural loss subjects show a different response pattern due in part to an increased reflex relaxation latency. Brey and Robinette [J. Acoust. Soc. Am. Suppl. 1 63, S53 (1978)] noted that post stimullus reflex latencies were increased for normal hearing subjects following the ingestion of alcohol. In the present study eleven normal hearing subjects were given the RRI test under two alcohol conditions: blood alcohol levels of 0.00 and 0.10%. Results showed six of the eleven subjects changed from a diagnosis criteria of normal cochlear function to that of sensorineural loss following alcohol consumption. Data suggests a simple positive or negative interpretation of the RRI test is not always appropriate.