Meniere's Disease Support Group
Meniere's disease is a balance disorder of the inner ear. The symptoms of Meniere's are variable; not all sufferers experience the same symptoms. However, "classic Meniere's" is considered to comprise the following four symptoms: Periodic episodes of rotary vertigo, hearing loss, tinnitus, and a sensation of fullness or pressure in one or both ears.
went to the otolaryngologist, the end of last week. Saw him after my scheduled hearing test. Did find out that the lower range is almost gone now and the upper range is starting to go. He was puzzled that my hearing loss is this bad. (I have had this for 2.5 yrs) This took me by surprise, I thought the hearing loss was normal. (well I did) How long did it take you all, loose hearing on average.
It took about 12 years to kill my right ear of hearing and balance completely..now it has gone bilateral and started on the left.
In 3 years I have lost about 30% hearing in left ear and recently had sac shunt/decompression surgery in an attempt to halt any further decrease.
I now need hearing aid on left ear daily.
Right ear is not aidable.
Hope this helps
regards
Everyone is different... I think doctors need to start realizing that and stop going by "the book".
A couple of things, first is that Meniere's is discribed often as a condition that has "fluxuating hearing loss". It is possable that the testing this time cought you on a day when your hearing wasnt so good. Another thing is that for me, the hearing loss is a range thing. If you had a scale of high and low tones numbered one to ten, I can hear rather well 4, 5 and 6 the rest I eather cant hear or cant decern, kind of strange I know but I have both upper and lower hearing loss, but thats me.
There is very good article at http://www.oticonusa.com/Oticon/Professional_Resources/Library/News_From_Oticon_/Amplification_and_Medically_Complex_Hearing_Loss.html
this explains how difficult it is to get hearing aids to work with people who have Menier's. Meniere's is considered to be under the heading of, what Drs call "Medically Complex Hearing Loss".
This is different from normal hearing loss because the outcomes are often variable. I hope this helps you. You can download the article into PDF format, you may want to take it to your Dr. if you so choose it relevent.
Have a blessed day!
Rich