Jastreboff, Margaret M.DeMots, Cynthia A.2015-12-172015-12-172013-06-142008-05TSP2008DeMotshttp://hdl.handle.net/11603/1894(Au. D.) -- Towson University, 2008. Thesis approval page signed by thesis committee members and the Dean of the College of Graduate Studies and Research included in print copy of thesis.Exposure to a sound provides protection against a subsequent traumatic sound. This toughening effect was studied in rats using different levels of stimuli. Rats were exposed to a 60 dBA or 72 dBA broad band noise for 5 days, 12 hours per day. Recovery from a 110 dB SPL 7.8 kHz pure tone presented for 20 minutes was measured using auditory brainstem response thresholds and distortion product otoacoustic emissions immediately after the traumatic exposure and 10 to 12 days later. Auditory toughening did not have an effect on hearing and outer hair cell function immediately following a traumatic sound exposure. The toughened groups showed, however, a greater recovery than the control group, which was proportionally dependent on the toughening sound intensity, 10 to 12 days after the traumatic sound exposure.application/pdfviii, 87 pagesengCopyright protected, all rights reserved.Deafness, Noise inducedAcoustic traumaNoise -- Health aspectsText