[Increased summation potentials in patients with Menière's disease]

There have been many publications about enlarged summation potentials with Meniere patients. The phenomenon was interpreted as being due to endolymphatic hydrops. 50 patients were examined electrocochleographically who were suffering from the symptoms low-frequency hearing loss, vertigo, tinnitus and pressure in the ear. As in other previous studies a significantly enlarged negative summating potential was found in 70% of the patients. With 10 patients electrocochleography was performed before and three hours after glycerol ingestion. In 8 patients the SP became smaller, although the subjective hearing threshold improved in only 4 cases. The study shows that enlarged SP is a common finding in Meniere patients; it underlines the diagnostic value of electrocochleography in this disease.