04/05/2026
🦻What are DPOAE's and why do we use them at Wigan Hearing?🦻
DPOAEs (Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emissions) are sounds generated by the cochlea in response to two simultaneously presented pure tones at specific frequencies. They are a type of otoacoustic emission, which refers to sounds emitted by the inner ear (cochlea) either spontaneously or in response to external stimuli.
Here's how DPOAEs work and why they're used:
Generation: When two pure tones at specific frequencies are presented to the ear, the cochlea vibrates in a nonlinear way, producing additional tones known as distortion products. These distortion products include DPOAEs.
Measurement: DPOAEs are measured using a sensitive probe inserted into the ear canal. The probe records the faint sounds emitted by the cochlea in response to the pure tones.
Frequency Response: DPOAEs are typically strongest at specific frequencies related to the frequencies of the pure tones used to elicit them.
Clinical Use: DPOAE testing is commonly used in audiology clinics for objective assessment of cochlear function, particularly in newborn hearing screening and diagnostic evaluations of hearing loss. DPOAEs can provide information about the integrity of the cochlea and can help differentiate between sensorineural (inner ear) and conductive (middle ear) hearing loss.
Advantages: DPOAE testing is non-invasive, quick, and can be performed even on infants who cannot respond to behavioral hearing tests. It provides valuable information about cochlear function without requiring active participation from the patient.
Overall, DPOAEs are an important tool in audiology for assessing cochlear function and diagnosing hearing loss, particularly in cases where conventional behavioral testing may be difficult or inconclusive.
