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How are otoacoustic emissions used to evaluate hearing?
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Auditory mechanisms in insects. (Left) A scolophore organ. (Top right) The mosquito ear. (Centre right) The ear of the cicada Magicicada septendecim. (Bottom right) The ear of the grasshopper.
Otoacoustic emissions (OAEs) are faint sounds generated by the healthy cochlea as a byproduct of the rhythmic contractions of outer hair cells. These emissions can be either spontaneous or evoked by external acoustic stimulation.12
In clinical practice, OAEs are used to evaluate hearing through the following methods:
- Newborn Screening: Because behavioral testing is often ineffective for infants under six months, OAEs are measured using a small, sensitive microphone placed in the ear canal. The presence of an emission indicates a healthy cochlear response, serving as a standard screening tool for newborns.1
- Diagnostic Assessment: If no OAE can be recorded, it suggests a potential issue with cochlear function, such as the loss of hair cells due to presbycusis or ototoxicity. In such cases, clinicians may use other diagnostic tools, such as auditory brainstem response testing, to further estimate hearing sensitivity.12
By providing an objective measure of cochlear health, OAEs serve as a valuable, non-invasive tool for identifying impaired hearing in both infants and adults.2