Electrocochleography and symptoms of inner ear dysfunction.

We examined the relationship between electrocochleographic test results and symptoms associated with Meniere's disease-endolymphatic hydrops (MD-ELH). Extratympanic electrocochleography (ECochG) was performed on 55 consecutive patients (110 ears) suspected of having MD-ELH, and the results compared with the clinical symptoms of the patients on the day of recording. Referring symptoms included sensorineural hearing loss, aural fullness or pressure, tinnitus, vertigo, and all combinations of these four. There was a statistically significant difference between ECochG findings when symptoms were absent compared with when one or more symptoms were present. Furthermore, the presence of hearing loss combined with aural fullness or pressure was the strongest predictor of a positive ECochG, as characterized by an enlarged summating potential action potential amplitude ratio.