INNER-EAR PRESSURE IN MENIERES-DISEASE AND FLUCTUATING HEARING-LOSS DETERMINED BY TYMPANIC MEMBRANE DISPLACEMENT ANALYSIS

Meniere's disease and fluctuating hearing loss are related to labyrint hine fluid pressure variations. The development of a new indirect meth od of analysis of the tympanic membrane displacement during the staped ial reflex, using the Marchbanks Measurements System (MMS 10), allows us to study inner ear fluid pressure during these pathological conditi ons. In this study, measurements with this method were made in four gr oups of patients: a control group with normal hearing (n=7), stable se nsorineural hearing loss (n=9), fluctuating hearing loss (n=8), and Me niere's disease (n=25). Results show, first, a good relationship betwe en the recording of negative curves, suggesting a high pressure, and t he acute episodes of fluctuating hearing loss; and, secondly, in the c ase of Meniere's disease two types of situation: positive and negative curves suggesting normal and high pressures, respectively.