Effect of reduced atmospheric pressure on patients with fluctuating hearing loss due to Ménière's disease.
Subjective symptomatic and objective audiologic effects of reduced atmospheric pressure on patients with confirmed fluctuating hearing loss due to Ménière's disease were statistically assessed on a prospective basis. The effect of hypobaric environments on absolute hearing thresholds was investigated in 10 normal subjects at 6,500 ft. Absolute hearing threshold levels obtained at altitude, after one hour altitude exposure, and on descent to normobaric conditions were compared with levels obtained prior to the hypobaric exposure. The results indicated slightly increasing sensitivity of the audiometer headphones with altitude and an insignificant difference in hearing threshold when comparing the differing experimental conditions. The Ménière's disease study group of 16 patients was followed symptomatically and audiologically for one year prehypobaric exposure and for one month post-treatment. The results in this group utilizing the same experimental protocol as with normal subjects indicated a mild deterioration of hearing in the lower frequencies (1,000, 2,000 Hz and calculating the Ménière's pure tone average) despite significant improvements in the vertigo and disability components of their disease.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001274:Atmospheric Pressure; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D001309:Auditory Threshold; D002138:Calibration; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008575:Meniere Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged