Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 24, 2026

Neuro-rehabilitation Approach for Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Published on: January 25, 2016
Vascular compression of the cochlear nerve and tinnitus: a pathophysiological investigation
Dirk De Ridder1, Sven Vanneste, Ine Adriaensens
1TRI Tinnitus Clinic, BRAI2N & Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Antwerp, Edegem, Belgium.
Objective:
Chronic microvascular compressions of the eighth nerve induce a slowing down of signal transmission in the auditory nerve, electrophysiologically characterized by IPL I-III prolongation.
Methods:
The authors hypothesize this is compensated by an active slowing down of signal transmission of the contralateral input at the level of the brainstem, characterized by contralateral IPL III-V prolongation.
Results:
Differences between ipsilateral and contralateral IPL I-III and IPL III-V are analyzed before and after microvascular decompression. ABR diagnostic criteria for microvascular compression are ipsilateral IPL I-III prolongation or ipsilateral peak II decrease + ipsilateral IPL I-III prolongation. With IPL I-III as diagnostic criterion, unlike preoperatively the difference between the ipsi- and contralateral IPL I-III is significant postoperatively. When using the stricter diagnostic criterion of IPL I-III + peak II, there is a preoperative significant difference between ipsi- and contralateral IPL I-III, but postoperatively the difference between the ipsi- and contralateral IPL I-III is not significant.
Conclusions:
Preoperatively, there is a marginal significant difference between the ipsi- and contralateral IPL III-V, which disappears postoperatively.
Related Concept Videos
Anatomy of the Ear
The Cochlea
Auditory Pathway
When viewed cross-sectionally, the cochlea reveals the scala vestibuli and scala tympani flanking the...
Increased Intracranial Pressure ll: Pathophysiology
Perceiving Loudness, Pitch, and Location
Place theory, or place coding, suggests that different pitches are heard because various sound waves activate specific locations along the cochlea's basilar membrane. The brain determines the pitch of a sound by identifying...
Hearing

