[Reaction pattern of the cochlea in cases of experimentally induced sudden hearing loss (author's transl)].

Acute auditory damage is produced in 127 guinea pigs. In one group (n = 68), sound damage is effected (140 dB SPL white noise for 5 min.). In a second group (n = 59), the cochlea is damaged with a cryoprobe (-196 degrees C, 1 min.). Both methods produce a middle-grade hearing impairment. With the aid of indwelling cathodes, the input-output curves are determined before and after the damage as well as up to the 16th postoperative day. Statistical comparison of the results shows that the reaction of the cochlea to the same irritation can be very different. This must be taken into consideration especially in evaluating the effect of pharmaca.