Retrocochlear
Pronunciation: reh-troh-KOK-lee-ar
Pertaining to pathology or dysfunction originating beyond the cochlea, along the auditory nerve or central auditory pathways, as distinguished from cochlear or middle ear origins.
Full Definition
The term 'retrocochlear' describes audiological findings or lesions that arise posterior to the cochlea — that is, along the vestibulocochlear nerve (cranial nerve VIII) or within the central auditory nervous system. Retrocochlear pathology is suspected when audiometric results are disproportionate to the degree of hearing loss, such as poor word recognition scores or absent acoustic reflexes at expected levels. Vestibular schwannoma (acoustic neuroma) is the classic retrocochlear lesion. Editors must take care not to hyphenate the term and should not confuse it with 'cochlear,' which refers to the sensory organ itself, or 'central,' which refers to brainstem and cortical pathways.
Usage
Usage note: Do not hyphenate. Distinguish from 'central auditory' when the pathology is definitively cortical or brainstem-level.
In Context
- "Disproportionately poor word recognition scores raised concern for a retrocochlear lesion, and MRI was requested." — Audiological diagnostic report
- "The term 'retrocochlear' should not be hyphenated in clinical documentation." — Editorial style note