Patients' experiences of living with superior canal dehiscence syndrome.

OBJECTIVE

The study investigated how the symptoms of superior canal dehiscence syndrome (SCDS) affected patients in their daily life, and how patients coped with the disease.

DESIGN

This was a qualitative study; semi-structured interviews were performed and analysed according to the systematic text condensation method.

STUDY SAMPLE: Twelve of 13 identified patients with SCDS in the county of Norrbotten, Sweden, were included in the study.

RESULTS

Five main categories were created based on the patients' experiences of living with SCDS: (1) Experiencing strange symptoms: One "new" symptom was identified - mental fatigue. (2) A restricted life socially, physically and at work: All patients experienced some extent of limitation in their daily life. (3) To accept and to protect oneself: All patients had developed strategies to protect their ears from noise. (4) Misunderstood in health care: The diagnosis was sometimes delayed several years due to lack of knowledge among healthcare workers. (5) Carefully considering treatment (surgery): Symptoms were weighed against the risk of side effects.

CONCLUSIONS

SCDS was rendered an invisible disability. In the present study, we identified mental fatigue as a symptom not previously considered in the literature.