Evoked Otoacoustic Emissions

Auditory stimulus causes the outer hair cells of the normal inner ear to move. This movement causes tiny sounds known as otoacoustic emissions or OAEs. OAEs are part of normal hearing.

When OAEs are absent it may be because of:

A mild or greater sensorineural hearing loss.

Middle ear fluid.

How is OAE Tested?

A tiny flexible plug is inserted into your baby’s ear. The test is performed when the baby is awake. It is painless and only lasts a few minutes.

What is Measured?

Our audiologist will check to see if the tiny sounds caused by the normal hair cell movement are occurring. The tiny sounds are recorded by the plug in the baby’s ear canal.

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