Special audiometric test battery in 121 proved acoustic tumors

The usefulness of a special audiometric test battery was analyzed in relation to overall and individual test efficiency for the diagnosis of retrochochlear disease. Data were collected and analyzed from 118 patients with 121 surgically confirmed acoustic neuromas and were compared with an earlier report of 200 similar cases. While audiologic testing plays a major role in the identification of retrocochlear disease, the test battery is not highly efficient. Eleven per cent of our neuromas had no audiologic signs and, therefore, escaped audiologic detection. The efficiency of individual tests range from 47% to 77%, while the difference in efficiency between the tone decay test (77%) and the entire battery (89%) indicates the continued need for more than one test. The low efficiency of some of the components justifies reappraisal and revision of the present test battery.