The present invention relates to a method for the production of a polyaryl ether by reaction of the components (a1) and (a2) in the presence of a carbonate compound (C) so as to obtain a salt-containing polymer (sP) which contains the polyaryl ether and a salt (S). Subsequent to the reaction, the salt (S) is extracted from the salt-containing polymer (sP) so as to obtain a desalinated polymer (eP) that contains the polyaryl ether.