Journal of Paramedical Sciences & Rehabilitation

Journal of Paramedical Sciences & Rehabilitation

An Investigation of the Views of the Iranian Association of Audiology's Members on the ‎Clinical Use of Electrocochleography in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Meniere's ‎Disease

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
E Pirasteh
F Hamzehpour
Z Sharafi
H Arbab Sarjoo
A Absalan
Department of Audiology, School of Rehabilitation, Zahedan University of Medical Science, Zahedan, Iran.
10.22038/jpsr.2021.47933.2103
Abstract
Purpose:
Electrocochleography is an electrophysiological test used to diagnose Meniere's disease. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the viewpoints of the Iranian Academy of Audiology's (IAA) members about the clinical use of Electrocochleography in the diagnosis and treatment of Meniere's disease.
Methods:
A 16-item survey was used to collect data. The survey was distributed to 600 members of the IAA through face-to-face interviews. A total of 267 people responded entirely to the survey.
Results:
In cases of suspected unilateral Meniere's disease, 71% of the participants in this study typically used Electrocochleography. Most respondents used click stimuli and canal electrodes to record the response. According to 32% of participants before any invasive therapeutic intervention, the Electrocochleography results must be abnormal. The majority (58%) believed that Electrocochleography results varied according to the disease status, but only 32% believed that returning Electrocochleography results to normal status indicates improvement in the disease. 7% of respondents reported that they would not perform the test because of the high variability of Electrocochleography results and their poor correlation with the disease symptoms.
Conclusion: 
According to the present results, the majority of the audiologists participating in the present study use Electrocochleography test to diagnose and manage Meniere's disease and most of them believe that it is possible to use history taking along with the Electrocochleography test to help diagnose the disease. Also, according to the majority of participants, the lack of sufficient training courses can lead to limited clinical utility of the test. 
Keywords
Electrocochleography
Meniere's disease
Endolymphatic Hydrops
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Journal of Paramedical Sciences & Rehabilitation
Volume 9, Issue 4
Winter 2021
Pages 80-90