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Long-term effects of Ménière's disease on hearing and quality of life
S E Kinney1, S A Sandridge, C W Newman
1Department of Otolaryngology/Communicative Disorders, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, OH 44195-5034, USA.
Objective:
To evaluate long-term hearing results and quality of life in patients with Ménière's disease.
Study Design:
Detailed audiometric evaluation and disease-specific as well as global health quality evaluation of patients with Ménière's disease.
Setting:
Ambulatory evaluation was conducted in a large multispecialty clinic.
Patients:
Ménière's disease in only one ear, were at least 1 year posttreatment, were < 65 years of age, had no neurologic or psychologic disorders, and lived within driving distance of the ambulatory clinic.
Main Outcome Measures:
Audiometry, the Hearing Handicap Inventory, Dizziness Handicap Inventory, Tinnitus Handicap Inventory, and SF-36 Health Survey.
Results:
No statistically significant differences in long-term hearing results were detected from natural history in medically or surgically treated patients with Ménière's disease. A significant disease-specific symptom handicap was detected. The global health handicap was greater for emotional disability than for physical disability.
Conclusions:
Medical and surgical treatment does not significantly influence hearing results in Ménière's disease. Patients with Ménière's disease have a greater emotional disability than a physical disability.