Vestibulo-Cochlear Function After Cochlear Implantation in Patients With Meniere's Disease.

OBJECTIVES: To measure the auditory (pure tone audiometry and word recognition scores) and vestibular (video head impulse test and vestibular myogenic potentials) outcomes in patients diagnosed with Meniere's disease (MD) who underwent cochlear implantation.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: This prospective study included 23 cochlear implant users with MD and 29 patients diagnosed with far-advanced otosclerosis (the control group).

RESULTS: The preoperative mean pure tone average thresholds were 99 and 122.5 dB for the Meniere's and control groups, respectively. Word recognition scores after cochlear implant yielded a median of 80% and 72% for the Meniere's and control groups, respectively. Semicircular canal gain was not observed to vary post implantation (mean variation for lateral, posterior, and anterior plane was 0, 0.03, and 0, respectively). The mean ocular and cervical myogenic potentials asymmetry varied as 9.65% and 18.39%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: The auditory performance improved in patients with MD similar to the general cochlear implant population. No major dysfunction of otolithic or semicircular canal function was demonstrated after the implantation surgery.