300 Longwood Avenue Boston, MA 02115 (617) 355-6000 My Child Has: Otoacoustic Emissions Programs that treat this condition Diagnostic Audiology Program   OAEs are tiny sounds generated by movement of outer hair cells of a normal inner ear following the presentation of an auditory stimulus. These sounds are recordable using a probe in the ear canal. OAEs are absent when there is a mild or greater sensorineural hearing loss (more than 30dB), and absent when there is middle ear fluid. Because OAEs measure the function of the cochlea, while ABRs measure the function of auditory nerve pathways, OAEs and ABRs can be used together to determine whether a hearing loss is sensory (cochlear) vs. neural in origin. The information on this website should not be taken as medical advice, which can only be given to you by your personal health care professional. Copyright © Children's Hospital Boston. All rights reserved.