Temporary loss of hearing after a glycerin test

The glycerin test has been proposed as an adjunct in the diagnosis of Meniere's disease. Complications of the test are rare and usually minor. We describe a case in which a 20- to 40-dB hearing loss developed in the uninvolved ear of a patient during a standard glycerin test. He made a complete recovery within three days after the test. We discuss the possible mechanisms of the loss.