Otoacoustic emissions (OAEs)
are low level sounds produced by the inner ear as part of the normal
hearing process. OAEs are reduced or absent in cases of certain types of
hearing losses, and it is expected that the measurement of OAEs is useful
for screening hearing in subjects for whom hearing can not be directly
tested, e.g. neonates, infants, and young children. Therefore, an attempt
is made to investigate whether it is possible to clarify the presence of
hearing impairment in the early stage in neonates by this technique
(Figure1).
Figure 2 shows the waveforms of OAEs
recording with click stimuli in the external auditory meatus of premature
babies. When emission level is low, cochlear dysfunction is
suspected.
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