Hearing aids for Ménière's syndrome: implications of hearing fluctuation.

BACKGROUND Hearing fluctuation imposes the biggest challenge in the fitting of hearing aids for patients with Ménière's syndrome. PURPOSE This study shows that the problem maybe be overcome by allowing the patients to test their own hearing and to program their own hearing aids to adjust for hearing fluctuation. RESEARCH DESIGN AND STUDY SAMPLE: A group of 40 participants diagnosed with Ménère's syndrome were fitted with Widex Senso Diva hearing aids and were provided with a portable Senso Programmer 3 (SP3) that allowed them to measure their own hearing thresholds at up to 14 different frequencies and to program their own devices. INTERVENTION The participants were instructed to test their hearing three times a day for 8 weeks and to program their hearing aids according to the measured thresholds. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS All participants recorded some degree of hearing fluctuation during the 8-week trial. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS Among participants, 70 percent continued to program their hearing aids on a regular basis and reported great satisfaction with amplification because they are now able to adjust their own devices when their hearing fluctuates.