Otoacoustic emissions (OAEs) are sounds of cochlear origin, which can be recorded by a microphone fitted into the ear canal. They are caused by the motion of the cochlea's sensory hair cells as they energetically respond to auditory stimulation. OAEs provide a simple, efficient and non-invasive objective indicator of healthy cochlear function and OAE screening is widely used in universal new-born hearing screening programmes. As part of the audiological diagnostic test battery, OAEs can contribute to differential audiological diagnosis, they can be used to monitor the effects of treatment and they can be helpful in the selection of hearing aids and of surgical options. As a research tool, OAEs provide a non-invasive window on intracochlear processes and this has led to new insights into the mechanisms and function of the cochlea and also to a new understanding of the nature of sensory hearing impairment. This chapter provides a broad introduction to OAEs and their applications together with a detailed description of the relationship between OAEs and cochlear mechanisms.
