Use of transtympanic round window electrocochleography for threshold estimations in children.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of round window electrocochleography for the estimation of hearing thresholds in difficult-to-test children.


METHODS
The study was a retrospective analysis.


METHODS
A standard day-stay operating room was used.


METHODS
Round window electrocochleography was performed on 198 children between January 1993 and January 1996.


METHODS
The intervention was diagnostic.


METHODS
Clinically reliable pure-tone audiograms were obtained in 101 patients (50.9%) for comparisons of electrocochleography and behavioral thresholds.


RESULTS
The mean differences between electrocochleography and behavioral thresholds at 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz were less than 6 dB. Ninety-seven percent of the results were within +30 to -30 dB, and approximately 86% of the results were within +20 to -20 dB. Good correlation coefficients of 0.83, 0.84, 0.91 and 0.88 were found between electrocochleography and behavioral thresholds at 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz, respectively. Only 2 of 395 ears were complicated postoperatively by suppurative otitis media. There were no anesthetic complications.


CONCLUSIONS
Round window electrocochleography can be used in conjunction with other audiometric methods for threshold estimations in the difficult-to-test children and as part of the preoperative assessment for cochlear implantation.
Wong
S H
SH
Department of Surgery, University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong.
Gibson
W P
WP
Sanli
H
H
D000293:Adolescent; D001300:Audiometry, Evoked Response; D001309:Auditory Threshold; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted; D016057:Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012405:Round Window, Ear / Q000502:physiology* / Q000601:surgery; D014432:Tympanic Membrane / Q000601:surgery