Clinical Audiogram of the Week: vol5, no10

This case was presented in a recent (vol5,no10) issue of otorhinolaryngology news:

A 37-year old female presented with 1 year history of right aural tinnitus, hearing loss, and initial vertigo which had since resolve. The only significant medical history is allergic rhinitis which is seasonal. Clinical examination including Otoscopy was negative. Pure Tone Audiometry revealed the audiogram demonstrated here:

Diagnosis: Right Meniere's Syndrome. 'Syndrome' and not 'Disease' because the underlying aetiology suspected here is allergy. Hearing loss in Meniere's disease is thought to be caused by distortion of the basilar membrane by fluid pressure an effect maximized at its widest point. This point is at the apical turn, hence the low frequency character of the typical hearing loss. In our experience, this hearing loss is the most difficult to correct of the triad that characterize this syndrom