Speech perception and hearing preservation after cochlear implantation in patients with Meniere's disease.

INTRODUCTION

Cochlear implantation can be used as a treatment for severe sensorineural hearing loss in patients with Meniere's disease.

AIM: The aim of the present study was to investigate speech perception and the grade of hearing preservation in patients diagnosed with Meniere's disease. One additional aim was to investigate the effects of cochlear implant surgery on balance and tinnitus.

METHODS

Adult patients with a known diagnosis of Meniere's disease were evaluated. Their speech perception and the degree of hearing preservation were compared with adult patients with sensorineural hearing loss of different etiologies. For the patients with Meniere's disease, their subjective reports on balance and tinnitus pre- and post-surgery were also investigated.

RESULTS

Both groups showed a statistically significant improvement in speech perception after cochlear implantation (p < .05); no statistically significant difference was found between the two groups. Analysis of hearing preservation for the two groups showed no statistically significant difference. Tinnitus decreased in 44.4% of the Meniere's disease patients one year post surgery.

CONCLUSION

We found no difference in speech perception with cochlear implant in patients with Meniere's disease compared with patients with other etiologies, and there was no difference in the rate of hearing preservation. Tinnitus improved after cochlear implant treatment in patients with Meniere's disease.