Otoacoustic
emissions (OAE) are sounds that are produced
by healthy ears in response to acoustic
stimulation or occurs spontaneously. They
are considered to be epiphenomenona, and
by-products of the activity of the outer
hair cells in the cochlea. Otoacoustic emissions
were first reported by Kemp in 1978
. Although his observations were
greeted with skepticism, OAEs have since
been reliably confirmed. They appear to
be generated by motile elements in the cochlear
outer hair cells. Oto acoustic emissions
are widely used for newborn hearing screening
and for identifying the site of lesion in
hearing disorders.