An audiologist tests a patient whose brain tumor compresses the olivocochlear bundle. If a sudden loud noise occurs, which consequence is most likely?

💡 Explanation

The olivocochlear bundle normally inhibits outer hair cell motility, dampening cochlear amplification. Compression disrupts this inhibition, because the efferent control normally regulating auditory gain is compromised; therefore, the acoustic reflex is exaggerated, rather than dampened, in response to loud sounds due to loss of regulation.

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