Hearing loss and tinnitus in Meniere's disease.

OBJECTIVES

To characterize hearing loss, tinnitus and associative factors in Meniere's disease.

METHODS

From our vertigo database consisting of 1356 patients, we retrieved 243 patients with Meniere's disease (MD).

RESULTS

Hearing loss was the initial symptom in 13% of cases. Altogether 64% (n=133) of the patients stated that their hearing was reduced during the vertigo attack. The hearing deteriorated more likely during the vertigo attack if the vertigo attack was very intense [r(206)=0.19]. Tinnitus was the initial symptom in 5% of cases. The tinnitus was mild in 38% (n=90), moderate in 32% (n=76) and severe in 30% (n=72) of patients. The intensity of tinnitus correlated with the occurrence of drop attacks [r(237)=0.29], vertigo provoked by head positioning [r(235)=0.25], by physical activity [r(230)=0.33], or by pressure changes [r(239)=0.27].

CONCLUSION

Prolonged disease causes deterioration of hearing. Intense tinnitus is common in MD and is more often seen in late stage of the disease.