Wide-Band Tympanometry Results during an Acute Episode of Ménière’s Disease

Abstract

Background: Wide-band tympanometry (WBT) was introduced as a beneficial diagnostic test for Ménière’s disease (MD) almost 15 years ago. However, an acute episode of MD has not been evaluated by using WBT yet. Objective: To investigate WBT findings in patients with MD during acute attacks. Method: Thirty definite MD patients with unilateral acute low-tone sensorineural hearing loss and aural fullness, and thirty age- and sex-matched control subjects were enrolled prospectively in a tertiary referral center. Ears were divided into three groups as follows: (1) affected ears of MD patients, (2) contralateral ears of MD patients, (3) control ears. Individuals underwent WBT. The resonance frequency (RF), mean absorbance value, mean low- and high-frequency absorbance values (LF-A and HF-A), and double peak width at 2 kHz of conductance tympanometry (2-kHz PW) were assessed. Results: Seventy percent in group 1, 66.7% in group 2, and 78.3% in group 3 demonstrated double peaks at 2 kHz. The mean 2-kHz PW values were 157.52 ± 79.19, 177.40 ± 79.14, and 139.64 ± 87.501 daPa for groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively. There were no significant differences between groups with respect to 2-kHz PW, RF, absorbance, LF-A, and HF-A. Conclusion: This was the first study that evaluated the effects of acute Ménière attacks on WBT findings. An acute Ménière attack was found to have no significant effect on the 2-kHz PW and other variables measured using WBT.