Diagnostic value of extratympanic electrocochleography in Menière's disease

In order to examine the usefulness of the noninvasive extratympanic electrocochleography (ECochG) in the diagnosis of Menière's disease, the results of extratympanic ECochG, performed on 28 normally hearing ears, 3 ears with otosclerosis and 325 ears with sensorineural hearing loss of various origins including 56 Menière ears, were analyzed. The characteristics of summating potential (SP) parameters in Menière ears were different from those of ears with hair cell loss due to streptomycin and kanamycin ototoxicity and noise, while there was no difference between the action potential (AP) of the cochlear nerve parameters of Menière ears and ears with hair cell loss. A much higher incidence of increased-SP/AP amplitude ratios in Menière's disease was observed than in hearing loss of other origins. The results demonstrate the usefulness of noninvasive extratympanic ECochG in the diagnosis of Menière's disease.