Driving Habits and Risk of Traffic Accidents among People with Ménière's Disease in Finland.

Objectives: The study evaluated the driving habits and risk of traffic accidents among people with Ménière's disease (MD) in Finland.

Materials And Methods: The study used a cross-sectional survey design. Members of the Finnish Ménière Federation (FMF) were contacted and requested to participate in an online survey.

Association between Syncope and Tumarkin Attacks in Ménière's Disease.

Objectives: The aim of the current study was to further collect evidence that would confirm the hypothesis that vestibular drop attacks (VDAs) could cause syncope in patients with Ménière's disease (MD).

Materials And Methods: A cross-sectional survey design was employed in the present study. An Internet-based survey was administered on 602 individuals with MD.

Impact of Tumarkin attacks on complaints and work ability in Ménière's disease.

The purpose of the present study was to characterize the occurrence of Tumarkin attacks in patients with Ménière'sdisease (MD), and to study its association with reported complaints, severity of consequences, and also self-reported work ability. The study used a cross-sectional design. Data obtained from the Finnish Ménière Federation using an electronic survey was analyzed.

Impact of Ménière's Disease on Significant Others' Health and Lives.

Background: Ménière's disease (MD) is a chronic and, in part, intermittent illness that poses multiple challenges for both the physical and psychological well-being of patients, as well as on those around them. The patients face psychosocial consequences, which include disruptions to life goals, employment, income, relationships, leisure activities, and daily living activities that also influence their family members and friends. However, there is a limited understanding of the impact of MD on significant others (SOs).

Patient-reported benefits from patient organization magazines and Internet-based peer support in Ménière's disease.

Objectives: To facilitate self-help, the Finnish Ménière's Federation (FMF) provides various kinds of support to persons with Ménière's disease (MD), which includes patient magazines (PM) and Internet-based peer support (iPS). The current study aimed to evaluate the benefits reported by MD patients in terms of PM and iPS.

Method: The study used a cross-sectional survey design with a mixture of structured and open-ended questions administered online.

Bilateral Vestibular Hypofunction in Quantitative Head Impulse Test: Clinical Characteristics in 23 Patients.

Objective: To explore clinical features of patients with bilateral vestibular hypofunction (BVH) verified in motorized head impulse test (MHIT).

Materials And Methods: We examined clinical records of 23 adult patients (10 males and 13 females), whose gain of the vestibulo-ocular reflex in the MHIT was bilaterally lowered. Fifteen of 62 unilateral cochlear implant (CI) recipients routinely tested both pre- and postoperatively with the MHIT had BVH.

Internet-Based Self-Help for Ménière's Disease: Details and Outcome of a Single-Group Open Trial.

Purpose: In this article, we present the details and the pilot outcome of an Internet-based self-help program for Ménière's disease (MD).

Method: The Norton-Kaplan model is applied to construct a strategic, person-focused approach in the enablement process. The program assesses the disorder profile and diagnosis.

Relational quality, illness interference, and partner support in Ménière's disease.

Objective: The current study aimed to better understand how patients and their significant others (SOs) cope with Menière's disease (MD).

Design: The study used a cross-sectional design and the data were collected using questionnaires.

Study Sample: Seventy-five dyads in which one person had MD.

Internet-based peer support for Ménière's disease: a summary of web-based data collection, impact evaluation, and user evaluation.

Objective: This paper presents a summary of web-based data collection, impact evaluation, and user evaluations of an Internet-based peer support program for Ménière's disease (MD).

Design: The program is written in html-form. The data are stored in a MySQL database and uses machine learning in the diagnosis of MD.

Vestibular syncope: A disorder associated with drop attack in Ménière's disease.

Objective: Experiments in humans and animals indicate that vestibular influx through vestibular sympathetic reflex is an important and vital part of the regulatory system of circulation. The otolith organ adjusts the circulatory responses through the vestibular sympathetic reflex during an upright stance and may trigger a vasovagal attack of syncope. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence and association of syncope attacks among patients with Ménière's disease (MD).

Do patients with Ménière's disease have attacks of syncope?

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence and associated factors for syncope among patients with Ménière's disease (MD). An attack of syncope was defined as a sudden and transient loss of consciousness, which subsides spontaneously and without a localizing neurological deficit. The study used an across-sectional survey design.

Impact evaluation and association with EuroQol 5D health-related utility values in Ménière's disease.

The study was aimed at evaluating the validity of impact measures among patients with Ménière's disease (MD) with outcome variables of EuroQol generic health-related quality of life (HRQoL) measures (i.e., EQ-5D) by using Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and EQ-5D index values.

Disease Profiling for Computerized Peer Support of Ménière's Disease.

Background: Peer support is an emerging form of person-driven active health care. Chronic conditions such as Ménière's disease (a disorder of the inner ear) need continuing rehabilitation and support that is beyond the scope of routine clinical medical practice. Hence, peer-support programs can be helpful in supplementing some of the rehabilitation aspects.

Attitudes of significant others of people with Ménière's disease vary from coping to victimization.

Objective: To explore the impact, reactions and coping methods of the significant others (SOs) of people with Ménière's disease (MD).

Design: SOs of people with MD were asked to answer open-ended questions reporting the 'life effects' and 'positive experiences' they have had as a result of the partner's condition. The replies to the 'life effects' question was categorized using the WHO-ICF framework.

Aural fullness in Ménière's disease.

Objective: Aural fullness in Ménière's disease and the predisposing and consequential factors were investigated and possible consequences of aural fullness on participation activity were explored.

Methods: 726 subjects of the Finnish Ménière Association replied to a questionnaire focusing on symptoms of Ménière's disease, sense of coherence, attitude, participation restriction, and general health-related quality of life (EQ-5D). In the analysis, the severity of the disease was controlled.

Positive experiences associated with acquired hearing loss, Ménière's disease, and tinnitus: a review.

Objective: It is common to study and understand how various illness and disorders result in negative consequences. However, positive experiences have been reported in a range of disabling conditions including multiple sclerosis, heart disease, physical and sensory disabilities. This paper presents a literature review of studies that have explored positive experiences associated with acquired hearing loss, Ménière's disease, and tinnitus.

The sense of coherence in patients with Menière's disease.

Objective: To investigate how the ability to adapt, measured by the sense of coherence (SOC), is related to specific complaints of Menière's disease (MD) and the disease specific and general health related quality of life (EQ-5D) and on disease specific impact of the disease (MD-impact).

Methods: Postal survey, including a structured questionnaire on EQ-5D, SOC, symptoms, positive experiences, and the impact of MD, was sent to the members of the Finnish Menière Federation, reporting a diagnosis compatible with the condition. A sample of 547 members replied and were analyzed.

[Bilateral failure of the vestibular system of the inner ear underlying an equilibrium disturbance].

Bilateral vestibular failure is a fairly rare, though possible cause underlying the symptoms of a dizzy patient. A recognizable oscillopsia symptom makes the diagnosis easier, though confirmation of the diagnosis requires a more precise measurement. The prognosis for recovery is not good, and curative treatment is not available.

The effects of Ménière's disorder on the patient's significant others.

Objective: To determine the effects of their partners' MD on the significant others of the patients.

Design: Open-ended questionnaire.

Study Sample: Significant others of members of the Finnish Ménière's Federation.

EuroQol 5D quality of life in Menière's disorder can be explained with symptoms and disabilities.

The purpose of this study was to determine the factors explaining changes in the generic quality of life among patients with Menière's disorder (MD) and to evaluate the EuroQol 5D (EQ-5D) quality-of-life measures. A questionnaire focusing on symptoms and disabilities caused by MD was collected from 726 individuals. General health-related quality of life (EQ-5D) was evaluated using the time trade-off (TTO) and visual-analogue scale (VAS).

The consequences of tinnitus in long-standing Ménière's disease.

Objective: To explore the perceived consequences of tinnitus in patients with long-standing Ménière's disease (MD).

Method: A questionnaire-based cross-sectional investigation of 183 randomly selected members of the Finnish Ménière's Federation. It assessed general health related quality of life (EQ-5D), a participation restriction scale, self-listed consequences and a rating of effects of MD on life.

Use of ICF in assessing the effects of Meniere's disorder on life.

Objectives: We sought to determine the value of the World Health Organization's International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) in subjects with Meniere's disorder in relation to their quality of life.

Methods: We asked 228 members of the Finnish Meniere Federation to report the effects that Meniere's disorder had on their lives. The replies were classified on the basis of the ICF classification and related to the EuroQol 5D score and disease-specific impact.

Positive experiences and quality of life in Ménière's disorder.

The objective of this study was to determine the influence of positive experiences on the quality of life of patients with Ménière's disorder. Its deign comprised a cross-sectional investigation of members of a self-help group, using a questionnaire of positive experiences, an oto-neurological questionnaire, EuroQol, and Ménière's impact rating. The study sample was 542 members of the Finnish Ménière Federation.

Positive experiences reported by people with Ménière's disorder: a quantitative study.

Conclusions: Eight aspects of self-reported positive experience in Ménière's disorder were identified, of which 'Perspectives on one's disease' can predict the impact of the condition.

Objectives: To determine the types of positive experiences related to attitudes and expectations and their relationship to the impact of Ménière's disorder on the individuals' lives.

Methods: A postal survey of the members of the Finnish Ménière's Association including a structured questionnaire on positive experiences that have been reported by people with Ménière's disorder.