It is very common for patients who have Meniere’s disease to have reduced hearing or lack of hearing. A hearing test is usually administered to patients who might have MD. Hearing loss or reduction is found for the most part in one ear. In my own case my hearing has been greatly reduced in my left ear. So it was determined that was the ear that had the Meniere’s disease. Over time about 50 % of MD patients will have the meniere’s in both ears.
How great the loss or the complete loss of hearing will be a determining factor in how to treat the MD. If the basic treatment of lowering your salt intake and taking a diuretic every day doesn’t help and if you can’t afford the Meniett device, evasive treatments may be your only options. Unfortunately some of these options come at a risk of hearing loss.
Gentamicin injections in the middle ear are generally a good option with very little risk to your hearing. I had this procedure and my hearing wasn’t affected at all.
Labyrinthectomy is a surgical procedure that is performed when there is no hearing left in the ear. This surgery removes most of the bony inner ear. This is one of the last resort surgeries for Meniere’s disease.
Endolymphatic sac decompression relieves pressure on the Endolymphatic sac by removing a small section of bone around it. There is a low risk of hearing loss.
Vestibular neurectomy eliminates the balance signal from the ear to the brain. A nerve is cut in the inner ear forcing the brain to regulate balance from only one ear. There is a high risk of hearing loss.
Make sure to carefully go over all your options with your doctor when considering surgery.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
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2 comments:
Hi. Ehm, all MD's will face a total hearing loss in both ears? I was "declared Meniere's" recently, but I don't have the vertigo, but the hearing loss and tinnitus. I'm scared, I don't know exactely why I would become deaf. I'm scared and depressed, i don't want to be apart from the world, depending only with my eyes.
I raher have a cancer or stuff, something that I would know its causes.
I am very sorry to hear about your meniere's diagnosis. As for the hearing loss, not everyone loses all their hearing, although it does happen with some people.
I know it is a very difficult time for you right now, but there is always hope! If I were you I would try to find out from your doctor what all my options were. That's what I did. If you don't feel comfortable with your current doctor get a second opinion, it took me 3 trys to find a doctor who I could trust and gave me encouragement that I could be helped.
Please don't give up. Stay in touch and let me know if I can help you out with any questions.
David
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