Otoacoustic emission
Otoacoustic Emission
Otoacoustic Emissions (pronunciation: oʊtoʊ.ækʊˈstiːk ɪˈmɪʃən) are sounds that are produced by the inner ear. Also known as cochlear echoes, they are generated either spontaneously or in response to stimuli, and can be measured with a sensitive microphone placed in the ear canal.
Etymology
The term "Otoacoustic Emission" is derived from the Greek words "oto" meaning ear, "acoustic" meaning sound, and "emission" meaning sending out. Thus, the term literally means "the ear sending out sound".
Types of Otoacoustic Emissions
There are four main types of otoacoustic emissions:
- Spontaneous otoacoustic emissions (SOAEs) - Sounds that are emitted without an acoustic stimulus.
- Transient otoacoustic emissions (TOAEs) - Sounds that are emitted in response to an acoustic stimuli of very short duration; usually clicks or pops.
- Distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) - Sounds that are emitted in response to two simultaneous tones of different frequencies.
- Sustained-frequency otoacoustic emissions (SFOAEs) - Sounds that are emitted in response to a continuous tone.
Clinical Importance
Otoacoustic emissions have important clinical applications. They are used in neonatal screening programs to identify hearing impairment in infants. They can also be used to test for noise-induced hearing loss, ototoxicity due to medications, and other conditions affecting the cochlea.
Related Terms
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Otoacoustic emission
- Wikipedia's article - Otoacoustic emission
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