Affiliations: [a] Neurosensory Biophysics, INSERM, University Clermont Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| [b]
Centre Jean Perrin, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| [c] Institut de l’Audition, Centre Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| [d]
University Hospital, ENT Department, Strasbourg, France
Correspondence:
[*]
Corresponding author: Paul Avan, Biophysics Laboratory, School of Medicine, 28 Place Henri Dunant, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France. Tel.: +33 47317 8130; E-mail: paul.avan@uca.fr.
Abstract: Audiological tests in patients with Menière’s disease reveal abnormal patterns relevant for diagnostic purposes with some success. Electrocochleography, otoacoustic emissions and immittance measurements share a moderate sensitivity but a good specificity. Their potential for monitoring the patients suggests means to understand the characteristic time course of Menière’s disease and the pathophysiology behind its attacks. Besides, magnetic resonance imaging now allows direct evaluation of endolymphatic hydrops. One issue is now to understand the links between volume inflation of endolymphatic spaces, which sometimes remains asymptomatic, and the functional signs, in the hope that a better understanding of what triggers the attacks may guide future treatments. This article provides a short review of the possible biophysical significance of audiological tests of Menière’s disease, and of the attempts to make sense of functional and imaging data and of the patterns they form when combined.
Keywords: Electrocochleography, otoacoustic emissions, operating point of auditory
sensory cells, hydrops, pressure
