Otoacoustic Emission(OAE)

o·to·a·cous·tic (ō'tō -kstk) e·mis·sion (ĭ-mĭsh'ən)

Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emissions testing or (DPOAE) is a noninvasive test that estimates peripheral hearing sensitivity by evaluating the outer hair cell function within the inner ear. Sensitive microphones are placed in the inner ear to record sounds that are most likely generated by the outer hair cells in the cochlea. This reflects the status of structures that are necessary for hearing which are present in nearly all normal-hearing individuals. DPOAEs are sensitive to middle ear or outer hair cell dysfunction and detect such hearing losses when they exceed about 30 dB.

During this test a rubber probe tip is placed in the ear, similar to a thermometer, for approximately one minute.