About the OAE hearing test

Otoacoustic emissions are produced by the cochlea without any acoustic stimulation from the environment. These tests are mainly used for patients who can't actively participate in the test, because they may be unconscious or uncooperative. The advantage of these emissions is that they provide an objective result.

Otoacoustic emissions tests are most common among pediatric patients, due to their convenience and lack of invasive measures. These exams can provide instant and reliable feedback about the child's cochlea health, which is helpful in making informed decisions.

These emissions are triggered by acoustic stimuli. There are a variety of factors that can influence the emission of sound, and these responses can be classified based on their characteristics.

Transitory otoacoustic emissions (TEOAEs): These sounds are produced by a brief stimulus, such as a click. They're commonly used to detect ear damage and diagnose hearing loss early on.

Stimulus-frequency otoacoustic emissions: These signals originate within the cochlea at the same frequency as the evoking tone, and are emitted in response to a continuous stimulus. They're different than other OAEs, which aren't typically used in clinical practice.

Distorsively produced otoacustic emissions (DPOAE): These emissions are created as a reaction to two tones being played at the same time, but at different frequencies. These otoacoustic emissions are very important in a clinical setting, as they make it possible to detect even mild damage to the cochlea that may not show up in a standard hearing test.