Frequency dependence and harmonic distortion of stapes displacement and intracochlear pressure in response to very high level sounds

•Ear canal and intracochlear pressures become nonlinear at high SPLs.•The saturation point of ossicular transmission is frequency dependent.•High SPL transmission exhibits harmonic distortion consistent with peak clipping.•Results can be used to update and extend hearing hazard assessment tools. Previous reports have suggested that intracochlear pressures (PIC) measured at the base of the cochlea increase directly proportionally with stapes displacement (DStap) in response to moderately high (