A 40-year-old woman presents with episodic vertigo lasting hours, fluctuating sensorineural hearing loss, and tinnitus in the right ear. Pure tone audiometry during an acute attack would most likely reveal which pattern of hearing loss?

• A Low frequency sensorineural hearing loss ✓
• B High frequency sensorineural hearing loss
• C Flat conductive hearing loss
• D Low frequency conductive hearing loss

Explanation

Meniere's disease involves endolymphatic hydrops, which classically causes a low frequency sensorineural hearing loss that fluctuates early in the disease. High frequency sensorineural loss is typical of presbycusis or noise trauma. Conductive hearing loss points to middle ear pathology, which is absent in Meniere's disease. The clinical triad includes episodic vertigo, tinnitus, and fluctuating hearing loss.

Reference: Cummings Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery, 7th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.