Tinnitus Associated with Meniere's Disease

Abstract

A study was performed to clarify the clinical characteristics of tinnitus associated with Meniere's disease, as influenced by such factors as unilaterality or bilaterality, glycerol test and ECoG results, types of onset, and time since last attack of vertigo. The criteria used were tinnitus test results and tinnitus scores based on loudness, discomfort level, and interference with life activities.
Of the 92 patients studied, 53 (58%) had noise tinnitus and 39 (42%) had tonal tinnitus. The frequencies of tinnitus ranged from low (around 250 Hz) to high.
Higher tinnitus scores were observed in Meniere's disease of cochlear or cochlear-vestibular onset, and in patients with bilateral fluctuant hearing loss and positive glycerol tests. Great care must be taken in the treatment of these patients.
Noise tinnitus was more apt to occur sooner after the last attack of vertigo than tonal tinnitus, but tinnitus scores were higher when the last attack of vertigo was more than 1 year earlier. This may be due to a decreased psychological tolerance for tinnitus as the vertigo-free period lengthens.