Electrophysiological study of the cochlea in patients with unilateral acute tinnitus

Abstract

Objective:To analyze the objective test results of the pure-tone audiogram （PTA）, extended high-frequency audiometry （EHFA）, distortion product otoacoustic emission （DPOAE）, auditory brainstem response（ABR）, and electrocochleogram （ECochG） in patients with unilateral acute tinnitus, summarize their characteristics and explore their clinical application value in hidden hearing loss. Methods:PTA, DPOAE, ABR, and ECochG tests were performed in 33 patients with unilateral acute tinnitus as the chief complaint. The detection rate and response amplitude of each DPOAE frequency, incubation period, and interval of ABR waves and -SP/AP in ECochG were analyzed. Results:①The thresholds of PTA at 0.25-8 kHz in both ears were in the normal range （P>0.05）, and the thresholds of PTA at 9-16 kHz in affected ears were higher than those in healthy ears （P<0.001）; ②There was statistical significance in the detection rate and response amplitude of DPOAE at 3, 4, 6, 8 kHz between ears （P<0.05）; ③The incubation period of ABR Ⅰ wave in affected ears was （1.55±0.17） ms, that in the healthy ear was （1.50±0.14） ms, among them, the incubation period of ABR Ⅰ wave in the affected ear was longer than that in the healthy ear, and the difference was statistically significant （P<0.05）; ④In ECochG, there was no significant difference in -SP amplitude between ears （P>0.05）, but there was a significant difference in AP amplitude and -SP/AP amplitude between ears （P<0.05）. Conclusion:EHFA, DPOAE, ABR, and ECochG have clinical significance in evaluating cochlear function in tinnitus patients.