The present invention concerns a method for the detection of distortion products of otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE), comprising the steps: (a) output of at least one first pair of primary tones each consisting of a first primary tone with frequency f1,1 and sound pressure level L1,1 and a second primary tone with frequency f2,1 and sound pressure level L2,1 with f2,1>;f1,1, and (b) detecting evoked distortion products of otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE), characterized in that the first primary tone {f1,1, L1,1} is output with a time delay tlag after the second primary tone {f2,1, L2,1}.