The otoacoustic emissions test is most often obtained as part of the audiological evaluation. For this test, a small probe is placed in your child’s ear that delivers a very soft sound.

For people with normal or near normal hearing, the sounds reach the cochlear (organ of hearing) and sends a small “echo” back to the ear canal, which is identified as an otoacoustic emission. This test allows us to obtain ear-specific, frequency specific information about the functioning of the ear; however, it is NOT a hearing test.