Otoacoustic emissions in patients with retrocochlear dysfunction: a report of five cases

This article describes the results of otoacoustic emissions testing in five patients with sensorineural hearing loss. We conducted an audiologic evaluation and performed image and cerebral function studies on each patient. Our investigation revealed that all five had spontaneous otoacoustic emissions and/or distortion product otoacoustic emissions. Pharmacologic treatment with anxiolytics, antidepressants, and anticonvulsant drugs was successful in alleviating symptoms in three patients. An organic and a central functional cause of symptoms was found in the remaining two patients. Before pharmacologic therapy, the spontaneous otoacoustic emissions were of high intensity, and the distortion product emissions were minimal. Following drug therapy, the former disappeared and the latter appeared.