Brenda L Lonsbury-Martin1, Glen K Martin. 1. Department of Otolaryngology, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, Colorado 80262-0001, USA. brenda.Lonsbury-martin@uchsc.edu
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Otoacoustic emissions offer the practitioner a number of beneficial features as a noninvasive and objective measure of the ear's ability to process acoustic stimuli. RECENT FINDINGS: Since their discovery, a number of clinical applications of otoacoustic emissions have been established, including their utility in the differential diagnosis of sensorineural hearing loss, in the screening of cochlear function in infants and other difficult-to-test patients, and in the monitoring of outer hair cell healthiness in patients who are exposed to potentially damaging agents or who have progressive hearing ailments. SUMMARY: Clinical applications of OAEs have developed very rapidly and OAEs have become the standard of care, at least, for pediatric patients.
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Otoacoustic emissions offer the practitioner a number of beneficial features as a noninvasive and objective measure of the ear's ability to process acoustic stimuli. RECENT FINDINGS: Since their discovery, a number of clinical applications of otoacoustic emissions have been established, including their utility in the differential diagnosis of sensorineural hearing loss, in the screening of cochlear function in infants and other difficult-to-test patients, and in the monitoring of outer hair cell healthiness in patients who are exposed to potentially damaging agents or who have progressive hearing ailments. SUMMARY: Clinical applications of OAEs have developed very rapidly and OAEs have become the standard of care, at least, for pediatric patients.