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The otoacoustic emissions hearing test is one of the evaluation tools used for hearing problems related to the inner ear. This method has to do specifically with the cochlea, which is a sensory organ used to hear in the inner ear. Inside the cochlea is a structure known as the Organ of Corti, which has inner and outer hair cells. The hair cells on the outside are a pre-amplifier that enhance a person's ability to hear soft sounds while also inhibiting louder sounds. If there is damage to the inner ear, a person will lose the ability to hear soft sounds and also lose the ability to tolerate loud sounds. And because the inner ear also has to do with fine tuning, damage there affects a person's ability to hear clearly. Sounds may become distorted and unclear. An otoacoustic emission is a signal made by a healthy inner ear in response to the cochlea being stimulated by a noise. Sounds stimulating the cochlea make the outer hair cells vibrate. That vibration makes an almost inaudible sound that bounces back to the middle ear. It is possible to measure that sound using a probe in the ear canal. This is known as otoacoustic emissions (OAE) testing. If a person has loss beyond a certain point, their ear does not produce these softer sounds. An OAE test is used to check for damage to the outer hair cells of the cochlea but also to detect blockages in the outer ear canal and fluid in the middle ear. This test is also useful for babies and people with developmental disabilities. All three parts of the peripheral auditory system are checked with an OAE test, which includes the cochlea, outer ear and middle ear. This test does not provide a comprehensive look at a person's ability to hear, but it does check the function of the cochlea. This hearing test involves inserting a probe into the ear canal. The audiologist needs to seal the canal with the probe in order for the OAE hearing test to be accurate. This procedure measures the emissions and is what is known as an acoustic recording, meaning it records sounds. It does not require any sort of response from the patient because the entire process is taken care of by the probe and attached computer. There are actually four types of emissions checked during an OAE, and only one of those types does not require some sort of stimulus to the ear to produce the necessary sound. The patient must remain still and silent for the process to be a success. Typically clicks are used to produce the desired sound response from the patient's cochlea. When the process is complete, the audiologist should have an idea of whether or not the patient's cochlea is as sensitive as it should be. Lack of sensitivity can be caused by a disease process or excessive exposure to loud noises, among other causes of trouble. It is also possible for a patient to appear to have trouble hearing but for the test to prove their cochlea is fine. That usually occurs in patients with autism, attention deficits or other problems such as inner hair cell damage. The OAE hearing test is the most frequently used tool for checking the cochlea's ability to respond to and produce soft sounds. An audiologist uses the results to either eliminate or include the cochlea as the part of the ear affecting the patient's ability to hear. Interested in finding out more about having a OER san diego, ca hearing test? For more information please visit: http://www.miracle-ear-sandiego.com.
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