K. Welzlmuller et al., CLICK-EVOKED OTOACOUSTIC EMISSIONS IN A CHILD WITH UNILATERAL DEAFNESS, European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology, 250(6), 1993, pp. 366-368
In a 6-year-old boy with idiopathic unilateral deafness, click-evoked
otoacoustic emissions were recorded in both ears with similar amplitud
es and time courses. Following stimulation of the deaf ear, no compone
nt of auditory-evoked brainstem potentials was recorded. No space-occu
pying lesion was observed with high-resolution CT. At retest 1 year la
ter these results were unchanged. In the deaf ear electrostimulation o
f the cochlear nerve was performed using an ear canal electrode. At a
stimulus current of 20 muA the body consistently reported hearing sens
ation. Click-evoked otoacoustic emission indicated good outer hair cel
l function. Hearing sensation at low stimulus intensities with electro
stimulation indicated fairly good functions of the cochlear nerve. Con
sidering also the results of imaging and auditory-evoked potentials, f
indings suggested that the deafness was due to an inner hair cell diso
rder.