Episodic Dizziness with Unilateral Hearing Loss: Clinical Characteristics According to Hearing Loss Pattern

Abstract

Received July 8, 2014 Revised August 12, 2014 Accepted August 26, 2014 Address for correspondence Jae Yun Jung, MD Department of OtolaryngologyHead & Neck Surgery, Dankook University College of Medicine, 201 Manghyang-ro, Dongnam-gu, Cheonan 330-715, Korea Tel +82-41-550-3973 Fax +82-41-556-1090 E-mail jjkingy2k@gmail.com Background and ObjectivesZZLow frequency hearing loss is known to be the most common hearing loss form in Meniere’s disease (MD) and episodic dizziness with low frequency sensorineural hearing loss is considered a very crucial symptom for the diagnosis of MD. However, flat or high frequency hearing loss is also commonly encountered in the Ear, Nose and Throat clinic. The aim of this study is to investigate the differences in clinical manifestation between episodic dizzy patients with low frequency hearing loss (LFHL) group and non-low frequency hearing loss (non-LFHL) group. Subjects and MethodZZWe reviewed medical records of 78 patients (36 of LFHL group and 42 of non-LFHL group) who had episodic dizziness with unilateral hearing loss and analyzed clinical characteristics according to hearing loss pattern. ResultsZZThe clinical features of LFHL include a predominance of female sufferers, high incidence of tinnitus and short duration of dizziness. There was no significant difference in frequency, nature of dizziness, and results of vestibular function test. Although the proportion of patients diagnosed with definite MD was higher in LFHL group at initial and final diagnosis, there were no statistically significant differences between two groups. ConclusionZZTherefore, when episodic dizziness is accompanied with unilateral hearing loss, not only low frequency but flat or high frequency hearing loss could be considered as a critical sign for possible progression to Meniere’s disease and careful observation should be taken. Korean J Otorhinolaryngol-Head Neck Surg 2015;58(3):173-6