I was diagnosed with Menierre's disease

[rfhphd]

What is the best alternative for menierre's.  A cochlear implant or hearing aid?


This discussion is related to Hearing loss in one ear.

[AuDitT]

I do agree with you. Sadly I have often seen Meniere's diagnosed in one patient consultation.  Fortunatley this was not the practice at the group I worked for.

We tended to be more cautious.

[ENTMD]

I have to agree with you and I appreciate your candid remarks, AuDitT.

Again, we are making vast assumptions since there is clearly a lot of information missing and, let's be honest, some patients leave the office remembering one thing when they may have been told another...And we really don't even know that it was an ENT specialist.  That detail alone could explain a lot.

But having said that, I think we can all agree that this does not sound like a standard/usual approach to the new Meniere's diagnosis.  This sort of thing should not be challenging for an ENT doc to handle and much more should be expected.

[AuDitT]

Seing how audiologist or hearing aid dealers can not diagnose Meniere's, I would assume it was an ENT that made the diagnossis, and told the OP to go and purchase some hearing aids through his/her staff audiologist or technician.

So while you are returning your hearing aid, and getting your money back, you should also request for a full refund from the physician for not giving your the standard treatment of care for a Meniere's patient.

Just my opinion...

Let us know how that goes.

Also, the laws that govern hearing aid sales differ from state to state & some states allow for 10% of the cost of the hearing aids to be kept by the vendor. (All the more reason to hold the physician to task for your situation) The audiologist or techy is the physician's subordinate, and the laws are very clear on this.

Good luck

[ENTMD]

Thanks, Nancy - looks like a very good site.

[Nancy T]

Dr. Hain's site is also great for all things dizziness. Here's the Meniere's page:

http://www.dizziness-and-balance.com/disorders/menieres/menieres.html

[ENTMD]

Well, assuming that that was indeed the case, then I sincerely apologize that you were handled in that fashion.  Was it an ENT doc you saw?

This appears to be a very good resource: www.menieresinfo.com/

In (very) brief, long-term management revolves around following a low-salt diet, limiting stress, using medicines like meclizine for dizziness flare-ups and, in some cases, using a diuretic medicine.  There are other non-surgical treatments that have limited evidence, but success in some people.

Again, I don't know anything about your case, but a hearing aid is a VERY unusual first step for a newly diagnosed Meniere's patient.  Keep your receipt info -- you may be bringing that back (there is something like a 30-45 day window during which the law says you can return it for a full refund, no questions asked).

[rfhphd]

Thank you for your response.  I was diagnosed and then given a hearing aid.  No one recommended a long term management of the problem.  If you can recommend some sites in which I can read about long term management, I would be grateful.

[ENTMD]

Your question doesn't entirely make sense -- "the best alternative for meniere's"?  Do you mean the best treatment?  Hearing aids or implants are only potentially appropriate for later stage disease in which the patient has permanently lost significant hearing.  One of the defining features of Meniere's is that the hearing loss is fluctuating (early on) -- it goes away (to a degree) and then comes back.  Getting you through the flare ups and then recommending long-term management in an attempt to limit the disease is the first step.  Hopefully whoever diagnosed you was able to give you that and much more.