Fluctuating deafness predominating in low frequencies can occur in the early phase of Ménière disease, together with changes in otoacoustic emissions (OAE) at the frequencies corresponding to the fluctuating ones, which are not correlated with the auditory thresholds detected in tone audiometry. In experimental studies, these changes are not related to the loss of outer hair cells (OHC) in the cochlear apex and their cause is still unclear, possibly corresponding to alterations in the hydrodynamic and biomechanical micromechanism of the cochlea. The OAE observed in the present case showed cochlear alterations in the early compensated phase of Ménière disease which cannot be detected by tone audiometry or standard examinations. Thus, this examination can reveal early lesions due to alterations of the cochlear micromechanism only.
Ménière; otoacoustic emission; cochlea; endolymphatic hypertension
