Hearing impaired cochlear response simulation

A model is introduced which allows the vibration of the basilar membrane to be estimated for different degrees of hearing loss. The model is based on a discrete lumped parameter model of the human cochlea, which uses a three dimensional description of the fluid coupling. The hearing losses are assumed to be caused by the combined malfunction of the outer hair cells (OHCs), the inner hair cells (IHCs), and the endocochlear potential driving the system. OHC loss and damage to endochoclear potential are modeled by a reduction of the cochlear amplifier gain, which is obtained by reducing the feedback gain of the OHCs. IHC loss is modeled as an overall reduction in basilar membrane response. The distribution of OHC and IHC loss along the cochlea are derived using an iterative method, which matches the output vibration amplitude of the model to that assumed to generate the hearing impaired audiogram.