VALLEY ENT ASSOCIATES
OAE Testing
expert ent care
OAE Testing
The inner ear contains tiny sensory cells that help convert sound into signals the brain can understand. Healthy cells can produce very soft sounds called otoacoustic emissions, or OAEs. Measuring these responses provides objective information about cochlear function and is useful for newborns, young children and others who may not be able to complete a traditional behavioral hearing test reliably.
A small, soft probe is placed in the ear canal and presents a series of quiet sounds. A sensitive microphone inside the probe measures the cochlea’s response. When emissions are present, they generally indicate that the tested portion of the inner ear is functioning as expected. An absent response does not diagnose hearing loss by itself and may be influenced by ear canal debris, middle ear fluid or other factors, so results are interpreted with the full evaluation.
More Than a treatment:
A Step Toward Lasting Relief
Conditions Treated:
Newborn and infant hearing screening needs
Failed or incomplete hearing screening
Suspected inner ear, or cochlear, hearing loss
Developmental or communication concerns
Patients unable to provide reliable behavioral responses
Monitoring after certain noise or medication exposures
Hearing concerns requiring an objective cochlear measure
Follow-up as part of a broader diagnostic evaluation
what are The benefits?
Quick and noninvasive
Does not require the patient to raise a hand or respond to tones
Provides objective information about inner ear function
Useful for newborns, infants and difficult-to-test patients
Can test each ear individually
Helps identify when additional diagnostic testing is needed
Can complement behavioral and middle ear testing
Audiology Expertise You Can Trust
Our ENT physicians are medical doctors (MDs/DOs) with advanced training in the diagnosis and treatment of complex ear disorders, including infections, tumors, balance issues, and underlying medical conditions that can affect hearing. We don’t just fit devices, we evaluate and treat the root causes of your hearing loss as part of your overall health.
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valley ent: SETTING THE STANDARD OF ENT CARE
IN NORTH ALABAMA
We are the region’s leading practice for full service ENT care, recognized for clinical excellence, compassionate relationships, innovative treatment options, and a patient experience built on trust rather than transaction.
