The role of otoacoustic emissions in screening and evaluation of noise damage.

Abstract

Otoacoustic emissions have been shown to be extremely useful in screening for hearing impairment in babies. This review considers the current evidence available with regard to the role of otoacoustic emissions in the screening for noise induced cochlear damage. A number of studies indicate that otoacoustic emissions provide an indication of cochlear damage prior to any change in the pure tone audiometric threshold. There is also some evidence that the medial efferent system evaluation using contralateral sound activated suppression of emissions indicates dysfunction after noise exposure. Increased variability of spontaneous emissions has also been shown to be associated with the presence of tinnitus in various aetiologies.