In an acoustic reflex test, what indicates a cochlear lesion?

In an acoustic reflex test, a lower than usual sensation level reflex indicates a cochlear lesion. This test assesses the auditory pathway's integrity and the muscles in the middle ear that contract in response to loud sounds. When there is a cochlear lesion, the auditory nerve may not transmit signals effectively, resulting in a reduced sensitivity to sound. Consequently, the reflex is triggered at a lower intensity than normal because the cochlea is less responsive to sound stimuli.

This finding can be crucial for audiologists in differential diagnosis. Since cochlear lesions can impact how sound is processed, recognizing that the acoustic reflex occurs at atypically low levels allows clinicians to pinpoint potential issues within the cochlea. Therefore, this result can guide further investigation and management of the patient's hearing problems.