Long-term prognosis of hearing loss in patients with unilateral Ménière’s disease

Abstract

CONCLUSION: The finding of deteriorated hearing loss at the initial visit at middle to high frequencies is a factor of poor hearing prognosis in Ménière's disease. Early intervention with instructions for lifestyle changes may lead to good outcomes in hearing. OBJECTIVE: An attempt was made to examine long-term changes in hearing loss in unilateral Ménière's disease and factors associated with prognosis of hearing loss retrospectively. METHODS: Based on their last hearing level of the affected ear, 36 patients were subdivided into two groups: the poor prognosis of hearing (PPH) group and the good prognosis of hearing (GPH) group. RESULTS: In the PPH group, the hearing levels at the initial visit at middle and high frequencies were significantly worse than those in the GPH group. Moreover, the hearing loss progressed during the first 2 years of the disease, and stayed flat to approximately 50 dB at the later stage. Conversely, the hearing loss at the onset in the GPH group showed no further progression over the first 2 years, and remained constant to approximately 35 dB at the later stage. In addition, the mean intervals from the onset to the initial visit in the PPH group were significantly longer than those in the GPH group.