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.

Results: When the effects of the other cardinal symptoms of Ménière's disease were partialled out, the main reported impacts of tinnitus related to anxiety, sleep and depression. It also contributed to some difficult listening situations and to interactions with significant others. Tinnitus explained a significant component of disease-specific quality of life (QoL), but did not relate significantly to the generic measures used. However, the measure 'mood' in the QoL scale was significantly associated with severe tinnitus.

Conclusion: The most important specific impacts of tinnitus in chronic Ménière's disease relate to broadly psychological factors and mood.