Relation between sense of pressure in the ear and electrocochleography: a diagnostic approach for early detection of endolymphatic hydrops

ABSTRACT

Is to investigate whether patients complaining of ear fullness or sense of pressure in the ear alone have early signs of hydrops. The study included 80 cases divided into [Group I] n=40 cases with normal hearing and complaining of sense of pressure [ear fullness] with no history of nausea or eustachian tube dysfunction and with or without history of vertigo, control group [Group II] which subdivided to [Group IIa] n=20 cases as normal controls with no ear problem and [Group IIb] n=20 cases with typical Meniere's disease. Audiological and Electrocochleography were done to all cases. Regarding SP/AP ratio, we found that group I [cases of aural fullness] and group IIb [cases of typical Meniere's disease] [100%] of cases were having an enhanced SP/AP ratio in the affected ears in comparison to cases of group IIa [normal control]. Cases with aural fullness associated with an enhanced SP/AP ratio in the electrocochleography can be considered as an early stage of hydrops