OAE Study Guide | Questions with 100% Correct
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Practice questions for this set
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OAEs are sounds generated by the cochlea (OHC), first described by David
Kemp in 1978, now widely used for hearing screening and cochlear
assessment.
Choose an answer
1 OAE history 2 Outer ear function
3 Inward/outward propagation 4 Electromotility
Don't know?
Terms in this set (35)
, OAE history OAEs are sounds generated by the cochlea (OHC),
first described by David Kemp in 1978, now widely
used for hearing screening and cochlear
assessment.
Outer ear function Collects and directs sound to the tympanic
membrane and provides resonance (2-3kHz).
Middle ear function Transmits sound via ossicles, provides 30 dB gain
(impedance matching), and is important for forward
and reverse transmission.
Inner ear function Converts mechanical energy into a neural signal
and houses the organ of Corti (OHCs and IHCs).
Cochlear physiology Inward propagation: sound to cochlea; outward
propagation: OAE to ear canal; electromotility:
OHC movement amplifies sound.
Electromotility OHCs change length in response to sound,
amplifying basilar membrane motion, improving
sensitivity and frequency tuning, and producing
OAEs.
Efferent connections to the cochlea Descending pathways from the brain to cochlea
that control OHC activity and help with noise
suppression and protection.
Traveling wave Sounds create a wave along the basilar membrane;
base = high frequency, apex = low frequency,
determining frequency place coding.
Active processing OHC amplification and sharp tuning.
Answers | Verified | Latest Update 2026
Save
Practice questions for this set
Learn 1 /7 Study using Learn
OAEs are sounds generated by the cochlea (OHC), first described by David
Kemp in 1978, now widely used for hearing screening and cochlear
assessment.
Choose an answer
1 OAE history 2 Outer ear function
3 Inward/outward propagation 4 Electromotility
Don't know?
Terms in this set (35)
, OAE history OAEs are sounds generated by the cochlea (OHC),
first described by David Kemp in 1978, now widely
used for hearing screening and cochlear
assessment.
Outer ear function Collects and directs sound to the tympanic
membrane and provides resonance (2-3kHz).
Middle ear function Transmits sound via ossicles, provides 30 dB gain
(impedance matching), and is important for forward
and reverse transmission.
Inner ear function Converts mechanical energy into a neural signal
and houses the organ of Corti (OHCs and IHCs).
Cochlear physiology Inward propagation: sound to cochlea; outward
propagation: OAE to ear canal; electromotility:
OHC movement amplifies sound.
Electromotility OHCs change length in response to sound,
amplifying basilar membrane motion, improving
sensitivity and frequency tuning, and producing
OAEs.
Efferent connections to the cochlea Descending pathways from the brain to cochlea
that control OHC activity and help with noise
suppression and protection.
Traveling wave Sounds create a wave along the basilar membrane;
base = high frequency, apex = low frequency,
determining frequency place coding.
Active processing OHC amplification and sharp tuning.
