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Published on: October 8, 2014
Abnormal positive potentials in round window electrocochleography
S J O'Leary1, T E Mitchell, W P Gibson
1Department of Otolaryngology, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Melbourne, Australia.
The American Journal of Otology
|November 15, 2000
Summary
An abnormal positive potential (APP) on round window electrocochleograms (RW ECochG) in children may indicate severe hearing loss. Half of affected children required non-auditory communication strategies for development.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric audiology
- Neurophysiology
- Otolaryngology
Background:
- Severe to profound hearing loss in children presents diagnostic challenges.
- Round window electrocochleography (RW ECochG) is a tool for auditory threshold estimation.
- Atypical waveforms may offer further diagnostic insights.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe an abnormal positive potential (APP) waveform on RW ECochG in children.
- To correlate the occurrence of APP with clinical history and auditory outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Prospective identification and retrospective analysis of clinical data for children undergoing RW ECochG.
- Analysis included audiograms, auditory outcomes, and clinical history.
- Focus on children under 110 months with suspected severe to profound hearing loss.
Main Results:
- APP was observed in 34 children, most pronounced with clicks and 8-kHz tones.
- APP click thresholds averaged 70 dB HL; brainstem evoked potentials showed abnormalities.
- Clinical factors like prematurity, kernicterus, or hypoxia were frequently associated with APP.
Conclusions:
- APP thresholds were lower than neural or behavioral thresholds.
- Children with APP require close follow-up due to a high likelihood of needing non-auditory communication strategies.
