Normal Audiogram Does Not Confirm Intact Cochlear Amplification: Compressive Nonlinearity Reveals Incipient Cochlear Changes
The cochlear amplifier, mediated by outer hair cell–driven nonlinear mechanics, enables the remarkable sensitivity and dynamic range of human hearing. Cochlear compression is a defining feature of this active process and is known to deteriorate with hearing loss. Among individuals with normal audiograms, cochlear compr...