Abstract: The problem of spontaneous combustion of coal left in the goaf poses a serious threat to coal mine safety, and the accurate positioning of its hidden ignition source is the key to effective governance. In order to accurately detect the location of the hidden ignition source of spontaneous combustion, combining the latest research results of scholars at home and abroad, the principles and applications of drilling detection method, infrared detection method, optical fiber temperature measurement method, thermocouple temperature measurement method, geological radar detection method, isotopic radon measurement method, and indicator gas detection method are reviewed. The above methods solve the problem of determining the dangerous area of spontaneous combustion, but are limited by their own technical characteristics and cannot fully adapt to the complex environment of the goaf, making it difficult to accurately detect the location of the ignition source. Compared with traditional methods, acoustic temperature measurement technology has the advantages of wide applicability, high reliability, and low economic investment. It has been successfully applied to the temperature field monitoring of grain storage warehouses. The porous medium characteristics of loose coal bodies in the goaf are similar to those of grain storage particles, based on which the idea of acoustic detection of hidden ignition sources in the goaf is proposed. We review and discuss the implementation methods and research progress of active acoustic wave temperature measurement method in the detection of hidden ignition sources in the goaf spontaneous combustion hazard area, focusing on the deficiencies in the current acoustic detection technology research related to acoustic feature recognition, acoustic attenuation, acoustic bending, temperature field reconstruction algorithm optimization, etc.