scholarly journals The DizzyQuest: relation between self-reported hearing loss, tinnitus and objective hearing thresholds in patients with Meniere’s disease

Author(s):  
E. C. Martin ◽  
R. Verkaik ◽  
J. J. A. Stultiens ◽  
M. R. van de Berg ◽  
A. M. L. Janssen ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Combining a mobile application-based vestibular diary called the DizzyQuest and an iPad-based hearing test enables evaluation of the relationship between experienced neuro-otological symptoms and hearing thresholds in daily life setting. The aim was to investigate the relationship between self-reported hearing symptoms and hearing thresholds in patients with Meniere’s disease (MD), using the DizzyQuest and the iPad-based hearing test simultaneously. Methods The DizzyQuest was administered for 3 weeks in 21 patients. Using the experience-sampling-method (ESM), it assessed hearing loss and tinnitus severity for both ears separately. Each day after the DizzyQuest, an iPad-based hearing test was used to measure hearing thresholds. A mixed model regression analysis was performed to investigate relationships between hearing thresholds and self-reported hearing loss and tinnitus severity. Results Fifteen patients were included. Overall, pure-tone averages (PTAs) were not correlated with self-reported hearing loss severity and tinnitus. Individual differences in PTA results between both ears did not significantly influence the difference in self-reported hearing loss severity between both ears. Self-reported hearing loss and tinnitus scores were significantly higher in ears that corresponded with audiometric criteria of MD (p < 0.001). Self-reported tinnitus severity significantly increased with self-reported hearing loss severity in affected (p = 0.011) and unaffected ears (p < 0.001). Conclusion Combining the DizzyQuest and iPad-based hearing test, facilitated assessment of self-reported hearing loss and tinnitus severity and their relationship with hearing thresholds, in a daily life setting. This study illustrated the importance of investigating neuro-otological symptoms at an individual level, using multiple measurements. ESM strategies like the DizzyQuest should therefore be considered in neuro-otological research.

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Augusto Pietro Casani ◽  
Elena Navari ◽  
Giorgio Guidetti ◽  
Michel Lacour

Menière’s disease is a disorder of the inner ear that causes vertigo, tinnitus, fullness, and hearing loss. Several pharmacological treatments are available, but none of them has shown significant results. Betahistine has been largely used but its effect on the main symptoms of Menière’s disease remains unclear. In order to improve clinical appropriateness and to reduce the heterogeneity of the therapeutic approaches for Menière’s disease, we proposed a European Consensus Conference on Betahistine’s prescription. A group of European experts in vestibular disorders completed a questionnaire, prepared by opinion leaders, on the use of betahistine in Menière’s disease. The Delphi method was used as an iterative investigation method in order to increase and establish the consensus. While betahistine was considered useful to reduce the number of the vertigo attacks during the intercritical phase of the disease, its use during attacks was considered helpful only when associated with other drugs. Betahistine was not considered useful for preventing hearing loss. The experts support the use of betahistine during the intercritical phase of the disease to reduce the number and severity of vertigo episodes. They also defined the parameters for a good clinical approach to evaluate the efficacy of betahistine treatment for Menière’s disease.


1988 ◽  
Vol 98 (3) ◽  
pp. 226-230 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kazuo Takeda ◽  
Louis D. Lowry ◽  
James J. C. Liu

We studied the effect of urea, glycerol, and mannitol on basilar and labyrinthine arteries of dogs In vitro by use of tension recording methods. When the tissue was exposed to urea or glycerol, temporary relaxation of smooth muscles was initially observed, but was followed by gradually increasing contraction. With mannitol, relaxation of the smooth muscles remained stable as long as mannitol existed in the bathing solution. When the specimens were washed with normal Krebs solution after exposure to any of these three substances, large phasic contractions of the smooth muscles were observed. While only theoretical, we propose a possible explanation for the different effects of these three drugs in the improvement of hearing loss that results from Meniere's disease.


1981 ◽  
Vol 19 (5) ◽  
pp. 17-18

Vertigo and dizziness are major symptoms of disturbed vestibular function. Sudden attacks of vertigo, associated with tinnitus and sensorineural hearing loss, occur in a wide variety of disorders of the inner ear, and when no underlying cause can be found the condition is termed ménière’s disease.


1997 ◽  
Vol 76 (8) ◽  
pp. 508-527 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jack L. Pulec

Congenital or acquired syphilis is the cause of Meniere's disease in six percent of all cases. The pathogenesis is endolymphatic hydrops and osteitis of the otic capsule which produces the characteristic fluctuating hearing loss, tinnitus and ear pressure associated with episodic spells of vertigo. The ear symptoms are, at first, typical of Meniere's disease of other etiologies. Failure to establish the specific etiologic diagnosis can result in unnecessary surgical treatment or inappropriate medical therapy. In some cases, if a steroid, the specific treatment, is not given promptly, hearing can be quickly and permanently lost. The etiology is confirmed by obtaining a reactive fluorescent treponema antibody absorption (FTA-abs) test. The clinical features and natural history of Meniere's disease of syphilitic etiology are unique. Ear symptoms often begin in the fifth decade of life, first in one ear and, after a few years, involving the second ear. Reduced or absent caloric responses are characteristic. When hearing loss is severe and sudden, this condition represents a true medical emergency and should be treated with prompt administration of steroids. An endolymphatic subarachnoid shunt operation is occasionally necessary as adjunctive management. An analysis of 34 cases shows that long-term use of steroids can maintain effective hearing for more than 20 years.


2020 ◽  
pp. 019459982094064
Author(s):  
Matthew Shew ◽  
Helena Wichova ◽  
Andres Bur ◽  
Devin C. Koestler ◽  
Madeleine St Peter ◽  
...  

Objective Diagnosis and treatment of Ménière’s disease remains a significant challenge because of our inability to understand what is occurring on a molecular level. MicroRNA (miRNA) perilymph profiling is a safe methodology and may serve as a “liquid biopsy” equivalent. We used machine learning (ML) to evaluate miRNA expression profiles of various inner ear pathologies to predict diagnosis of Ménière’s disease. Study Design Prospective cohort study. Setting Tertiary academic hospital. Subjects and Methods Perilymph was collected during labyrinthectomy (Ménière’s disease, n = 5), stapedotomy (otosclerosis, n = 5), and cochlear implantation (sensorineural hearing loss [SNHL], n = 9). miRNA was isolated and analyzed with the Affymetrix miRNA 4.0 array. Various ML classification models were evaluated with an 80/20 train/test split and cross-validation. Permutation feature importance was performed to understand miRNAs that were critical to the classification models. Results In terms of miRNA profiles for conductive hearing loss versus Ménière’s, 4 models were able to differentiate and identify the 2 disease classes with 100% accuracy. The top-performing models used the same miRNAs in their decision classification model but with different weighted values. All candidate models for SNHL versus Ménière’s performed significantly worse, with the best models achieving 66% accuracy. Ménière’s models showed unique features distinct from SNHL. Conclusions We can use ML to build Ménière’s-specific prediction models using miRNA profile alone. However, ML models were less accurate in predicting SNHL from Ménière’s, likely from overlap of miRNA biomarkers. The power of this technique is that it identifies biomarkers without knowledge of the pathophysiology, potentially leading to identification of novel biomarkers and diagnostic tests.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document