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Disability in Meniére's disease
H Cohen1, L R Ewell, H A Jenkins
1Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Communicative Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Tex.
Archives of Otolaryngology--Head & Neck Surgery
|January 1, 1995
Summary
Patients with Menière's disease experience significant disability, primarily from vertigo and hearing loss. The unpredictability of attacks and lack of safe resting places were less problematic than initially hypothesized.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Neurology
- Disability Studies
Background:
- Menière's disease is a disorder of the inner ear.
- It is characterized by episodes of vertigo, tinnitus, hearing loss, and aural fullness.
- Understanding the level of disability is crucial for patient care and legal evaluations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the extent of disability in patients diagnosed with Menière's disease.
- To provide data for clinicians evaluating patients for Americans With Disabilities Act coverage.
- To test the hypothesis that unpredictable attacks and lack of safe seating are the primary disabling factors.
Main Methods:
- A self-administered questionnaire was sent to patients diagnosed with Menière's disease.
- Data were collected from patients seen in an otolaryngology faculty practice at a tertiary care center.
- Complete data sets from 50 adult subjects were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Vertigo was identified as the most significant disabling symptom.
- Hearing loss was the second most problematic symptom reported by patients.
- The unpredictability of Menière's attacks and the need for a safe place to sit were not major issues for most subjects.
Conclusions:
- Vertigo and hearing loss are the primary sources of disability in Menière's disease.
- The study's initial hypothesis regarding unpredictability and seating was not supported by the findings.
- Clinical evaluations for disability related to Menière's disease should focus on the impact of vertigo and hearing loss.