Question
In most clinical settings, it appears the diagnosis of Meniere's disease is based on the clinical judgment of the physician. In light of this, please address the clinical utility of ECochG.
Answer
ECochG offers "objective" data regarding the patient's condition. This data can be used to substantiate a diagnosis, justify a treatment regimen, and also monitor the effects of treatment. Among other benefits, the support of objective data regarding a particular diagnosis has important implications in the medico-legal arena.
The symptoms associated with Meniere's disease/endolymphatic hydrops can also be caused by other otologic/neurologic disorders. ECochG is helpful in this regard as well. That is, a positive electrocochleogram is very specific to endolymphatic hydrops. When combined with the ABR, this one-two punch provides important information about the status of the cochlea, auditory nerve, and brainstem.
John A. Ferraro, Ph.D.
Professor and Chairman
Hearing and Speech Department
University of Kansas Medical Center
Co-Director
KU Intercampus Program in Communicative Disorders
Associate Dean for Research, School of Allied Health
BIO:
John Ferraro, Ph.D., has an extensive academic background in the area of
auditory electrophysiology, including a 2 year post-doctoral fellowship
with Peter Dallos at Northwestern University. He has over 20 years of
experience performing research and conducting clinical studies in the area
of auditory evoked potentials (AEPs), and has taught university,
graduate-level courses in AEPs for 17 years. He has over 70 publications
(including a recent textbook), and more than 100 presentations in this
area.