These sounds can be used to test the function of the cochlea and other parts of the ear, including the auditory nerve. The hearing test is also called OAE and is usually performed on newborn babies to detect deafness. It can also be used on adults to test for hearing loss and is commonly used in conjunction with the ABR (Auditory Brainstem Response) hearing test.
OAE testing is not painful and many babies sleep right through it.
This exam is carried out by placing small probes in the ear. One delivers sound and the other is a microphone. If the cochlea is functioning properly, it should echo in response to the sound.
OAE testing cannot definitively diagnose hearing loss or deafness. If you fail OAE testing, you will need further hearing tests to determine if there is hearing loss or not.
