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.