Can switching stimulus polarity identify Meniere's disease? A preliminary investigation on ABR.

Abstract

Background: Meniere's disease (MD) affects 0.2% to 0.5% of the global population, with regional variations. Standard diagnostic methods, including the glycerol test and EcochG, show variable sensitivity and specificity, highlighting the need for more reliable diagnostic approaches.

Objective: This study aims to investigate latency differences in wave V of the Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) by comparing waveforms for rarefaction and condensation clicks to identify MD.

Materials and methods: The study analyzed latency differences in wave V of the ABR using condensation and rarefaction clicks in 15 ears diagnosed with MD. The control groups included 10 ears with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) [non-MD ears] and 20 ears with normal hearing sensitivity.

Results: MD patients exhibited a significant wave V latency shift between rarefaction and condensation stimuli, suggesting altered cochlear dynamics due to endolymphatic hydrops. No such shift was observed in normal hearing or SNHL ears. Patients with definite MD showed a greater latency difference than those with probable MD, possibly reflecting varying endolymphatic pressure.

Discussion: These findings suggest that ABR testing with opposite polarity stimuli could serve as an adjunctive diagnostic tool for MD, particularly in differentiating the severity of the condition but further research is needed to validate these preliminary.