🌟 Understanding Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE): A Non-Invasive Way to Screen Hearing

Otoacoustic emissions (OAEs) are low-level sounds naturally generated by the outer hair cells of the cochlea in response to auditory stimuli. Measuring these sounds helps audiologists and healthcare professionals evaluate cochlear function, particularly the performance of the outer hair cells.

OAE testing is:

* Fast

* Non-invasive

* Objective

* deal for all ages, including infants, young children, and patients with neurological impairments

Because OAEs do not require any behavioral response, they are a valuable tool in newborn hearing screening and for individuals who cannot participate in conventional audiometric tests.

An OAE hearing screener uses a specialized probe, similar to a tympanometry device. The probe contains two speakers and a sensitive microphone, sealed into the ear canal with a soft eartip.

Testing Process:

1. The speakers generate auditory stimuli, such as clicks (for TEOAE) or paired pure tones (for DPOAE).

2. These sounds travel through the middle ear into the cochlea.

3. In response, the cochlea's outer hair cells emit a secondary sound — the otoacoustic emission.

4. This emission travels back through the middle ear and is captured by the probe microphone in the ear canal.

Since the emission signal is very faint and can be masked by ambient or biological noise, the system uses advanced signal averaging to distinguish real otoacoustic emissions from background noise.

Additionally, the condition of the middle ear — including the ossicular chain and eardrum — may affect results. Tympanometry is often recommended before or after OAE testing to ensure accurate interpretation.

👶 1. Newborn Hearing Screening

OAE testing is a cornerstone of universal newborn hearing screening programs, especially in developed countries like the United States, where over 90% of hospitals use this method. It's:

• Quick (takes only a few minutes)

• Painless

• Reliable in detecting early signs of hearing loss

👂 2. Diagnosing Adult Hearing Loss

OAE tests assist in identifying sensorineural hearing loss, especially in older adults suffering from age-related hearing decline. They are often used alongside other diagnostic tools for comprehensive evaluation.

🎧 3. Evaluating Hearing Aid Effectiveness

By comparing otoacoustic emissions before and after hearing aid use, professionals can evaluate how well a hearing aid is amplifying sounds and stimulating cochlear activity.

🔊 4. Tinnitus Assessment

OAE testing can provide insight into tinnitus origin by analyzing cochlear function, helping physicians identify whether the problem is peripheral or central in origin.

🏭 5. Occupational Health & Noise Monitoring

In noisy work environments, regular OAE testing helps detect early signs of noise-induced hearing loss, enabling timely preventive actions and occupational health interventions.

🧠 6. Central Auditory Pathway Evaluation

If both ears emit OAEs but contralateral suppression is absent, it may signal central auditory lesions. This feature makes OAE valuable in neurological diagnostics.

To ensure accurate test results with OAE screening devices like those from Guangzhou INNORKOM Medical Limited, observe the following best practices:

1. Clean the external auditory canal before testing to eliminate wax or debris interference.

2. Test infants and toddlers during natural sleep to minimize motion artifacts.

3. A “REFER” result does not confirm permanent hearing loss — retesting and further audiological assessments are essential.

At Guangzhou INNORKOM Medical Limited, we provide advanced, easy-to-use OAE Hearing Screeners that combine TEOAE and DPOAE technologies. Our devices are designed for:

• Newborn hearing programs

• ENT clinics

• Pediatric practices

• Occupational health screening

With high accuracy, automatic PASS/REFER results, and portable design, our OAE Hearing Screener is your reliable partner in early hearing detection and diagnosis.

👉 Learn more about our OAE Hearing Screener here and contact us for customization and quotation.