Can Excessive Usage of Earphones Affect OAE’s?

Abstract

Otoacoustic emissions (OAEs) are audio signals that originate from the cochlea. It can be recorded by a probe which contains microphones that is inserted into the external auditory canal^[1]. For the sake of discussing their main features and characters  otoacoustic emissions have been classified on the basis of the type of stimulus needed to evoke them , on that basis Otoacoustic emissions have been categorized into two main categories, Spontaneous oaes are elicited without a stimulus while evoked Oae’s require stimulus to be elicited. Evoked oaes are further classified into 3 different types which are Transient evoked oaes (TEOAEs), distortion product oaes (DPOAEs), stimulus frequency oaes (SFOAEs)^[2].  Otoacoustic emissions make a great audiological test as they give a brief description about the functional status of the outer hair cells^[3]. DP OAE’s show integrity of outer hair cells and how the cochlea functions. When used correctly in a clinical setting, they are a very useful assessment tool for diagnosing hearing loss with accuracy. DP OAE’s are readily recorded in newborns and preteens and can provide us with basic hearing screening information as well as diagnostic information in case hearing loss is suspected.