Objective:To investigate the characteristics of wideband acoustic immittance（WAI） measurements in patients with unilateral Ménière's disease（MD） and evaluate the clinical value of WAI in diagnosis of MD. Methods:WAI was performed in 30 patients with unilateral MD（30 ears for symptomatic and 30 ears for asymptomatic） and in 26 healthy individuals（52 ears）（control group）. The WAI measurements, including the frequency first appearing two peaks in energy absorbance（EA） tympanogram, resonance frequency（RF）, the peak value of absorbance（PVA）, the integral area of absorbance（IAA）, EA curve at peak pressure, were analyzed. Results:①The occurrence of two peaks in EA tympanogram in both the MD symptomatic and asymptomatic ear was observed in 27 ears（84.4%）, and 38 ears（70.4%） in the control group, with no significant difference in the frequency of first appearing in two peaks onset between the groups（all P>0.05）. ②The RF of the MD symptomatic ears was significantly lower than that of the asymptomatic ears（t=-3.544, P=0.001） and that of the control subjects（t=2.084, P=0.041）; there was no difference of RF between the MD asymptomatic ears and the control group（P>0.05）. ③The PVA were significantly lower in both MD symptomatic（t=4.240, P<0.01） and asymptomatic ears（t=4.202, P=0.001） than in controls. ④The IAA in MD symptomatic（t=3.295, P=0.001） and asymptomatic ears（t=3.193, P=0.003） was significantly lower than in the control group. ⑤Comparison of the EA curve at peak pressure of the three groups: the EAs of MD symptomatic ears were lower than those of the control group at the range of 1 059-2 911 Hz（all P<0.05）; the EAs of MD symptomatic ears were lower than those of MD asymptomatic ears within 1 000 Hz and 1 834-2 119 Hz（all P<0.05）; the EAs of MD asymptomatic ears were lower than those of the control group at the range of 515-2 748 Hz（all P<0.05）. Conclusion:Symptomatic ears in unilateral MD patients show alterations in some WAI measurements compared to asymptomatic ears and/or controls, suggesting that middle ear mechanical fuction of the affected side may be modified due to the endolymphatic hydrops. The clinical significance of WAI needs to be further explored in the context of evaluating MD.
Humans ; Meniere Disease/diagnosis* ; Endolymphatic Hydrops/diagnosis* ; Ear ; Hearing Tests ; Acoustics

Objective: To explore the dynamic changes of vestibular autorotation test (VAT) before and after vestibular rehabilitation treatment in patients with unilateral vestibular hypofunction (UVH). Methods: A retrospective study was carried out,48 patients who were diagnosed with UVH and under vestibular rehabilitation in department of otorhinolaryngology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, from January 2019 to January 2021 were enrolled. Among them, there were 21 males and 27 females, with an average age of 46.9 years old, including 25 cases of Meniere's disease, 13 cases of sudden deafness with vertigo and 10 cases of vestibular neuritis. The course of disease ranged from 5 days to 10 years. Demographic characteristics, detailed case data and routine examination were collected for the patients. The horizontal gain/phase, vertical gain/phase, and asymmetry of VAT at different frequencies before and after vestibular rehabilitation were collected. The absolute value of the difference between the measured value of 2.0-5.9 Hz before and after rehabilitation and the standard value were statistically analyzed. Results: Before vestibular rehabilitation, the incidence of abnormal gain was 62.5% (30/48), the incidence of abnormal phase was 56.3% (27/48), and the incidence of asymmetry was 16.7% (8/48). After 4-6 weeks of vestibular rehabilitation, the incidence of gain abnormality was 22.9% (11/48), the incidence of phase abnormality was 31.3% (15/48), and the incidence of asymmetry was 12.5% (6/48).The horizontal gain at frequency of 2.0-3.9 Hz showed statistically significant difference compared with before vestibular rehabilitation (P<0.05), and the horizontal gain at frequency of 4.3-5.9 Hz showed that there was no significant difference (P>0.05); the horizontal phase at 5.9 Hz showed that the difference was statistically significant (P=0.043), and there was no significant difference before and after rehabilitation treatment at 2.0-5.5 Hz (P>0.05); the vertical gain at 4.3 Hz showed the difference was statistically significant (P=0.020), and the remaining frequency showed no significant difference (P>0.05); No frequency of asymmetry and vertical phase showed the difference before and after rehabilitation was statistically significant (P>0.05). Conclusion: VAT can be used to monitor the change trend of multiple frequency bands before and after vestibular rehabilitation in UVH, in order to provide reference for the formulation of personalized rehabilitation strategies.
Female ; Humans ; Male ; Meniere Disease/diagnosis* ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Vertigo/diagnosis* ; Vestibular Function Tests ; Vestibular Neuronitis

OBJECTIVES: Over the last decades, numerous studies on the effect of vestibular rehabilitation (VR) have been reported in western countries, but there has been no report about real experiences of customized VR in Korea. The aim of this study was to analyze of the efficacy, compliance and satisfaction in patients with acute and chronic dizziness. METHODS: Patients with dizziness were treated with a customized VR at least 4 weeks. Subjects were assessed before and after at least 4 weeks of customized VR for visual analogue scale (VAS) and disability scale (DS). Patients were asked to score the satisfaction of their treatment as 1 (very poor) to 5 (excellent). Compliance to exercise program were graded as 1 (regularly performed), 2 (frequently performed), or 3 (rarely performed). RESULTS: Thirty-two patients with dizziness were included. Diagnosis of patients were vestibular migraine (n=5), Meniere's disease (n=2), vestibular neuritis (n=10), persistent perceptual positional dizziness (n=10), bilateral vestibulopathy (n=3), and central dizziness (n=2). Mean VAS and DS before VR were 15.3 and 2.4, respectively. Mean VAS and DS after VR were 4.5 and 0.7, respectively. Significant improvements in VAS and DS were observed after VR (p=0.00). Mean treatment satisfaction score was 3.3±1.0 and mean compliance score was 2.3±0.8. Satisfaction to VR showed positive correlation with patient's compliance. (p=0.00, r=0.644) CONCLUSIONS: Significant improvements were seen in symptom and disability in patients with acute and chronic dizziness after customized VR. Patients showed moderate compliance to exercise program and overall satisfaction was fair.
Compliance ; Diagnosis ; Disease Management ; Dizziness ; Humans ; Korea ; Meniere Disease ; Migraine Disorders ; Rehabilitation ; Vestibular Diseases ; Vestibular Neuronitis

Low frequency sensorineural deafness is a common subtype of idiopathic sudden deafness. Certain patients suffered recurrent attacks without vertigo, much alike Meniere's disease. Few of them developed into definite Meniere's disease during long-term follow-up in many clinical studies. Although the pathophysiology of recurrent low frequency deafness is yet unknown, the desease is considered associated with early state of endolymphatic hydrops or migraine. Otologists shall be aware of its clinical course and careful explanation is necessary at time of initial informed consent.
Endolymphatic Hydrops ; complications ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; complications ; diagnosis ; Hearing Loss, Sudden ; Humans ; Meniere Disease ; complications ; Vertigo

Autoimmune inner ear disease (AIED) is a rare disease, accounting for < 1% of all cases of hearing impairment or dizziness. It is characterized by sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) or vestibular dysfunction that results from an immunemediated process. Clinical features of AIED is SNHL that progresses over weeks to month with fluctuating hearing symptoms. Because there are no diagnostic laboratory and clinical feature, response to immunosuppressive therapy were important for diagnosis of AIED. Many diseases such as sudden SNHL and Meniere disease may also mimic AIED, a broad differential must be maintained in patients suspected of having AIED. We report a case of a 46-year-old female who presented with sudden hearing loss and vertigo. We could diagnose her as AIED with systemic lupus erythematous. The symptoms were improved treated with steroids.
Diagnosis ; Dizziness ; Ear, Inner ; Female ; Hearing ; Hearing Loss ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; Hearing Loss, Sudden ; Humans ; Labyrinth Diseases ; Meniere Disease ; Middle Aged ; Rare Diseases ; Steroids ; Vertigo

OBJECTIVES: Ménière disease is a clinical syndrome characterized by the four major symptoms of episodic vertigo, sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus, and aural fullness. Sensorineural hearing loss, especially low frequency, is the characteristic type of audiogram in Ménière's disease. However, it is difficult to distinguish idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL) with vertigo from the first attack of Ménière disease. The purpose of this study was to investigate the incidence of progression into Ménière Disease from low frequency ISSNHL. METHODS: Two hundred eighty-three patients were included in this study. We classified the patients with ISSNHL according to the hearing loss in audiogram and analyzed how many of them actually progressed to Ménière disease based on diagnosis criteria. RESULTS: Among the 240 patients, 37.1% (89 patients) were confirmed low frequency ISSNHL and 14.6% (13 patients) of them were diagnosed with Meniere disease. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that the progression from low frequency ISSNHL to Ménière disease was higher than other frequency ISSNHL, as in other studies.
Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hearing Loss ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; Hearing Loss, Sudden ; Humans ; Incidence ; Meniere Disease ; Tinnitus ; Vertigo

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Despite the extensive research for the Meniere's disease (MD), it's pathophysiology still remains uncertain and questionable among scientists. Clinical symptoms and audiometric tests form the basis for the diagnosis. Nevertheless the differential diagnosis can be extremely challenging, due to subjective and not specific results. Incorrect diagnosis is most likely and for this reason there is a great demand for objective and reliable tests. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The presence of endolymphatic hydrops is necessary condition but non enough for the diagnosis. In this study we analyze retrospectively the summating potentials (SP)/action protentials (AP) ratio from peritympanic electrocochleography in 34 patients,divided in two groups (13 patients classified as defined MD and 21 patients classified as probable MD). The purpose was to identify the utility of the exam so to be able to achieve an early defined diagnosis. Furthermore our intention was to obtain an objective test, besides the clinical criteria currently in use for the diagnosis and the classification of the MD. RESULTS: The analysis of the SP/AP results shows high predictability for the MD (positive in six out of seven cases with a sensitivity greater than 80%). CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates a satisfactory sensibility percentage in recurrent defined MD presentation (>80%). Early identification of MD can lead to an early treatment and control of the progression of the disease. Furthermore it could be a valuable instrument for the follow up and evaluation of the patients classified as probable MD in accordance with the criteria of the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (1995).
Audiometry, Evoked Response* ; Classification ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Early Diagnosis* ; Endolymphatic Hydrops ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intention ; Meniere Disease* ; Neck ; Retrospective Studies

The Best clinical approaches for Meniere's disease starts from the proper diagnosis which is based on the clinical symptoms, including the characteristic features of vertigo and auditory symptoms. After first criteria has been made in 1972 by the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, it has been revised two times in 1985 and 1995. Japanese criteria have been made in 1974 and revised 2008. Most recent criteria of the Barany Society has been established in 2015. The basic notion is almost similar among these criteria, but detailed descriptions has been gradually changed in characteristics of vertigo and auditory symptoms based on the updated research data and consensus. Understanding of how the diagnostic criteria of Meniere's disease has been evolved is very important in terms of good clinical practice because they contain the development of knowledge about the disease. This article reviewed all the diagnostic criteria, and compared the differences.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Consensus ; Diagnosis* ; Endolymphatic Hydrops ; Humans ; Meniere Disease* ; Neck ; Vertigo

BACKGROUNDMeniere's disease is a unique, progressive disease of the inner ear. The complex manifestation presents diagnostic challenges. The cochlear symptoms often present before vertigo and tend to be ignored. This study aimed to analyze the characteristics of cochlear symptoms and functions associated with Meniere's disease to investigate the regularity of the development of this disorder.

METHODSOne-hundred fifteen patients who were diagnosed with definite unilateral Meniere's disease at the Hearing and Vestibular Clinic of the Department of Otorhinolaryngology of Beijing Tongren Hospital from August 2013 to November 2015 were recruited in this retrospective study. Initial symptoms, duration from initial symptoms to the diagnosis, hearing thresholds, audiogram patterns, and caloric test results were collected and analyzed for each patient. Data were analyzed using SPSS 13.0 statistical software by Spearman's correlation, Kruskal-Wallis H test, Chi-square test, and Fisher's exact test.

RESULTSThe average hearing threshold of these patients was 45.24 ± 18.40 dB HL. A majority of the patients (55.65%) were in Stage 3. The initial presentation of the disorder in 58 cases (50.43%) comprised only cochlear symptoms without vertigo. A weak, positive correlation was found between the degree of hearing loss and duration of the disease from initial symptoms to the diagnosis (rs = 0.288, P = 0.002). Upward-sloping, inverted "V," downward-sloping, and flat pattern were the main audiometric patterns observed with a distinctive distribution between stages (P < 0.001). Based on the configurations of audiograms, the audiometric patterns had a weak correlation to the duration (rs = 0.269, P = 0.004), and there was a tendency of duration to rising from upward-sloping, inverted "V", downward-sloping to flat pattern. (H = 10.024, P = 0.018). Frequencies of tinnitus in 56 patients (64.4%) were at the lowest points of the audiograms, i.e., the frequencies of the poorest hearing threshold. The patients at an advanced stage (Stage 3 [56] and Stage 4 [73]) exhibited a significantly higher abnormality of canal paresis than those at the earlier stages (Stage 1 [23] and Stage 2 [42]) (χ2 = 5.973, P = 0.015).

CONCLUSIONSPatients with definite Meniere's disease always have a moderate to severe sensorineural hearing loss before diagnosis. Cochlear symptoms are the most common initial presentation. With the progression of the duration, the hearing impairment becomes more severe and the distribution of the audiometric pattern is distinctive between stages.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Caloric Tests ; Cochlea ; physiopathology ; Female ; Hearing Loss ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Male ; Meniere Disease ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Tinnitus ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; Vertigo ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; Young Adult

Meningiomas account for 13 to 37% of all primary brain tumors, with 15% of all intracranial meningiomas arising in the posterior fossa. Patients with jugular foramen meningiomas (JFMs) may present with vague, non-specific vertiginous symptoms and sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). Recently, the author encountered a unique case of JFM with symptoms similar to those of Ménière's disease and those of delayed endolymphatic hydrops. The patient discussed in the present case is a 17-year-old woman with a several month history of right SNHL and recurrent attacks of vertigo. The initial diagnosis of vertigo was later diagnosed as a JFM of the clear cell subtype, which is a remarkably rare pathological finding among intracranial meningioma. This study reports a case of JFM of the clear cell subtype in addition to a review of the literature.
Adolescent ; Brain Neoplasms ; Diagnosis ; Endolymphatic Hydrops ; Female ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural* ; Humans ; Meniere Disease ; Meningioma* ; Vertigo*