Probabilistic Differential Diagnosis of Auditory Dysfunction on the Basis of Electrocochleography

Abstract

Bayes’ theorem was used to establish a probabilistic differential diagnosis between four hearing states :normal hearing, conduction hearing loss, Menière’s disease, and hair-cell damage. Measurements were carried out by electrocochleography (ECoG), action potentials being determined in response to short tone-burst stimulation. This method proved to permit differentiation between normal and abnormal cochleas, but the present state of development does not allow a more detailed diagnosis.