Characteristics of auditory and vestibular symptoms in patients with Meniere's disease

OBJECTIVES: The research objectives were to examine which are the most common symptoms of Meniere's disease in relation to the stages of the disease, to determine average heating loss and the most common type of tone audiometry curve in relation to the stages of the disease. METHODS: The materials are specialist ENT findings and pure tone audiometry and vestibulometry findings from the register of the Audiology Institute. The subjects were divided into two groups depending on gender and age, and into four groups depending on the stage of the disease determined by audiometry findings. RESULTS: Statistical analysis revealed a significant association of all symptoms, except aural fullness (p = 0.127), with the stage of the disease. In the first and second stages the most common symptoms are vertigo, hearing fluctuations and tinnitus, and in the third stage vertigo, tinnitus and aural fullness. In the fourth stage, the most common symptom is tinnitus. In the first and second stages, the ascending type of curve is the most common, while in the third and fourth stages, it is the flat type. The younger group has a significantly higher frequency of vertigo attacks (p < 0.001) and hearing fluctuations (p < 0.001), while the older group has more frequent vestibular hypofunction (p < 0.001) and a higher average hearing loss (72.79 dB) compared to the younger group (31.13 dB). There are differences in curve types in relation to gender and age (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: With the progression of the disease and aging we see a decrease in the frequency of hearing fluctuations and vertigo and an increase in the average hearing loss and the frequency of vestibular hypofunction. The ascending type of curve is more common in earlier stages and in younger subjects, while the flat type is more common in later stages and in older subjects. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 1.