The recording of otoacoustic emissions (OAE) is one of the objective methods within audiological diagnostics. This means that the examination of OAEs is independent of active cooperation of the subject. The OAE results reflect the vitality and functionality of outer hair cells of the inner ear. As such they are relevant yet not specific for noise damage and they allow only qualitative but not quantitative conclusions concerning the degree of a functional deficit. The present review describes the potential and the limit of the method with special emphasis on the questions which play a role in occupational medicine.
