Canal electrode electrocochleography in patients with absent wave I ABRs

Fifteen patients (23 ears) who demonstrated no recordable wave I at the time of clinical auditory brainstem response testing were subsequently retested under three auditory brainstem response-electrocochleography conditions. One condition was the traditional auditory brainstem response, another was the auditory brainstem response with electrocochleography filtering, and the third was an electrocochleographic condition using a canal electrode (Tiptrode). The electrocochleographic recording condition provided more readable wave I responses than the other conditions. In addtion, the electrocochleographic condition provided wave I amplitudes that were greater than those of the traditional auditory brainstem response. The later waves of the auditory brainstem response (III and V) were similar in wave presence amplitudes and latencies for all three test conditions.