The responses of single auditory‐nerve fibers to simple stimuli (e.g., single tones, clicks) have been studied extensively. The modeling of these response patterns has certainly enlarged our knowledge of how such simple stimuli are processed by the peripheral auditory system. In contrast, such stimuli do not occur often in the natural environment. Current research is turning to the analysis of the responses to complex stimuli, a major example of which are the responses to speech. Nonlinear system theory, in particular, the contributions due to Wiener, yields a systematic method of describing any system—linear or nonlinear. This report will review critically Wiener theory with respect to the special issues of concern in the peripheral auditory system. Attention will focus on whether Wiener theory may yield extra information on models of the peripheral auditory system and whether studies employing this method may be fruitful.