Acoustic Reflex

Acoustic Reflex

The acoustic reflex (or stapedius reflex, attenuation reflex, or auditory reflex) is an involuntary muscle contraction that occurs in the middle ear of mammals in response to high-intensity sound stimuli.

When presented with a high-intensity sound stimulus, the stapedius and tensor tympani muscles of the ossicles contract. The stapedius pulls the stapes (stirrup) of the middle ear away from the oval window of the cochlea and the tensor tympani muscle pulls the malleus (hammer) away from ear drum. The reflex decreases the transmission of vibrational energy to the cochlea, where it is converted into electrical impulses to be processed by the brain. The acoustic reflex normally occurs only at relatively high intensities; activation for quieter sounds can indicate ear dysfunction.The pathway involved in the acoustic reflex is complex and can potentially involve the ossicular chain (malleus, incus and stapes), the cochlea itself (organ of hearing), and from there, the auditory nerve, brain stem and facial nerve. Even this represents a simplification. Consequently, the absence of an acoustic reflex, by itself, may not be conclusive in identifying the source of the problem.