AIM: By means of electrocochleography exams performed in control subjects, in patients with endolymphatic hydrops with hearing thresholds equal or greater than 50 decibels and in patients with labyrinth disorders without clinical signs of endolymphatic hydrops with hearing thresholds equal or greater than 50 decibels, this study aimed at determining statistical differences among the three groups concerning the studied parameters, to assess what is the most sensitive parameter in the identification of the group with endolymphatic hydrops, and to analyze if the association of parameters is useful to the laboratory characterization of the group with endolymphatic hydrops. STUD DESIGN: Clinical retrospective. METHOD: Retrospective study of 60 electrocochleography exams. The relation of the percentage between the summating potential and the action potential (SP/AP), the amplitude between the first positive peak of the second component of the action potential and the baseline (I/BSL), and the amplitude between the second positive peak of the second component of the action potential and the baseline (II/BSL) were analyzed. RESULTS: The analysis revealed different statistical behavior between the groups concerning the SP/AP ratio. The value of the SP/AP ratio equivalent to 46.0% presented 75.0% of sensitivity and 60.0% of specificity to the identification of the group with endolymphatic hydrops. CONCLUSIONS: The groups presented different statistical behavior among themselves; the SP/AP ratio was the most sensitive and specific parameter for the identification of the patients with endolymphatic hydrops; the analysis of the association of the parameters was not possible.
electrocochleography; hearing loss; Menière's disease
