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How does an electrocochleogram measure cochlear function?
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audiology
Learn about the audiology department of the Center for Audiology, Speech, Language, and Learning, a nonprofit clinic at Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois.
An electrocochleogram (ECoG) is an electrophysiological test used to measure cochlear function, particularly in individuals who are unable to participate in standard audiometric testing, such as infants.1
The procedure involves recording electric potentials that represent impulses within the cochlear nerve. To obtain these measurements, a fine, insulated needle electrode is inserted through the tympanic membrane to make direct contact with the promontory of the basal turn of the cochlea. By recording these potentials directly from the outer surface of the cochlea, the ECoG provides a direct sampling of cochlear function.1