Otoacoustic Emissions Crash Course

Otoacoustic emissions (OAE) is an auditory test that is used to assess the health of the inner ear. An OAE is a sound that is produced by the cochlea in response to a sound stimulus. The OAE test measures the magnitude and frequency of this sound, as well as how quickly the sound is emitted. This test is generally a short, non-invasive procedure that can be used to diagnose problems with the inner ear. During the OAE test, a probe is placed in the ear canal and a soft sound stimulus is delivered. The cochlea then reacts to the sound by emitting an OAE. The response is measured with a microphone, and the results are plotted on a graph. The amplitude and frequency of the OAE gives an indication of how healthy the cochlea is—a strong, clear signal indicates a healthy cochlea, while a weak, distorted signal indicates possible hearing loss. OAEs can also be used to measure the way a person hears. A loudness function test can measure how loud a person can hear for different frequencies. A threshold test measures the lowest level a person can hear for different frequencies. These tests can help identify any hearing loss a person may have, as well as determine the severity of hearing loss. OAEs can also be used to diagnose problems with the auditory nerve. An evoked response test can measure how quickly the auditory nerve responds to sound, and any problems with the speed or timing of the response can be used to diagnose auditory nerve problems. Overall, OAEs are an important tool in the diagnosis and assessment of hearing disorders. The OAE test is non-invasive and is typically used in conjunction with other tests to gain a comprehensive image of a person’s hearing and inner ear health.