OAE Screening
OAE Screening
Identifies hearing damage at a point when they are not yet symptomatic, before the patient is aware and long before it becomes visible on the audiogram.
This screening tool, based on ‘Otoacoustic Emissions (OAEs)’
Otoacoustic Emissions (OAEs) are the golden standard for measuring the integrity (functionality) of Outer Hair Cells (OHCs) in the cochlea. As such, they are very useful to detect noise-induced damage to the inner ear, prior to the development of a significant hearing loss
Outer Hair Cells (OHCs) are the vulnerable hair-like structures of the inner ear that are involved with almost everything that can go wrong in the cochlea such as overexposure to sound, ototoxic medication and presbycusis. They are like the ‘canaries in a coal mine’ for hearing.
This is game changing for Primary Care Providers
Primary Care Providers include general practitioners (GPs), occupational doctors, pharmacists, physician assistants, nurses, Health & Safety service providers ...
Hearing screening in the clinical practice
Otoacoustic Emissions (OAEs) are an objective and easy-to-use method for hearing screening in a clinical setting. Because they do not require a behavioural response, they are not influenced by language, cognitive function, motivation or attention of the patient. In most cases OAE-equipment is portable (handheld), so you can take it to the patient, and you do not need a sound-treated room or soundproof booth. All you need is a quiet patient.
Hearing screening in industry, police, army, schools...
Compared to Pure Tone Audiometry, OAEs are cost-saving because the time commitment in performing the test is much shorter (1 minute per ear) and because both ears can be measured simultaneously.
Otoacoustic Emissions (OAEs) are an objective and easy-to-use method for hearing screening in a clinical setting. Because they do not require a behavioural response, they are not influenced by language, cognitive function, motivation or attention of the patient. In most cases OAE-equipment is portable (handheld), so you can take it to the patient, and you do not need a sound-treated room or soundproof booth. All you need is a quiet patient.
Hearing screening in industry, police, army, schools...
Compared to Pure Tone Audiometry, OAEs are cost-saving because the time commitment in performing the test is much shorter (1 minute per ear) and because both ears can be measured simultaneously.
Hearing screening in the general population (e.g. health fairs, schools...)
While the goal of large-scale population-based screening may be too ambitious in terms of logistics and manpower, the implementation of smaller, community-based programs, restricted to testing individuals at highest risk, is feasible. The OAE-screening not only identifies individuals who are highly susceptible to damage from noise but also indicates the extra precautions they need to take to preserve their hearing.
While the goal of large-scale population-based screening may be too ambitious in terms of logistics and manpower, the implementation of smaller, community-based programs, restricted to testing individuals at highest risk, is feasible. The OAE-screening not only identifies individuals who are highly susceptible to damage from noise but also indicates the extra precautions they need to take to preserve their hearing.