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Vinaya Manchaiah,1–4 Ilmari Pyykkö,5 Jing Zou,5,6 Hilla Levo,7 Erna Kentala7 1Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences, Lamar University, Beaumont, TX, USA; 2Department of Behavioural Sciences and Learning, The Swedish Institute for Disability Research, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden; 3Audiology India, Mysore, 4Department of Speech and Hearing, School of Allied Health Sciences, Manipal University, Manipal, Karnataka, India; 5Department of Otolaryngology, Hearing and Balance Research Unit, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland; 6Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Center for Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery of Chinese PLA, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China; 7Department of Otolaryngology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland 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. A sample of 185 patients from the FMF membership database provided complete data.Results: Ninety-two percent of the respondents rated PM as useful, or very useful. The main benefits of PM included: information on the disease and complaints, information about elements of peer support program, patient’s experience with useful positive case studies, relevant news on MD, and information of activity of the FMF. Of the 185 persons, 68 reported that they did not have a need for peer support as their disease was either in silent phase or did not cause any annoyance. The main reasons for nonuse were: mild disease, personal reasons, and problems in using. Regarding the benefits of iPS, 75% of recent and 64% of chronic MD patients said that they would benefit from such a program. The main benefits of iPS included: reliable information on the disease and its management, peer support useful for coping with the disease, information about managing MD symptoms, information about managing attitude, and information about therapy. Moreover, the study identified different groups of individuals, which included: nonusers of support from patient organizations, those who used the support but did not feel they benefited, and those who used and also benefited from such programs.Conclusion: The current study results provide some information about the preferences of MD patients regarding different forms of support and could certainly prove helpful while developing wider support strategies. Keywords: Ménière’s disease, chronic condition, peer support, self-help, self-management

Abstract 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. Results showed that the positive questions explained 21% of the variance of the EuroQol TTO, 31% of the EuroQol VAS measure, and 35% of the Ménière's impact. This compared with 40% of the variance explained by symptomatic complaints. When both the symptoms and positive measures were taken together, there was an increase in the proportion of the variance explained for the VAS (42%) and Ménière's rating (50%), but not for the TTO (42%). A perspective on the disorder was the main positive experience associated with the increased variance explained. Positive experiences have a significant impact on self-rated quality of life. The results suggest that encouraging a positive perspective on the condition, in addition to treating the underlying symptoms, could be useful in rehabilitative management. Sumario El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar la influencia de las experiencias positivas en la calidad de vida de los pacientes con el trastorno de Ménière. Su diseño involucra una investigación transversal de los miembros de un grupo de auto-ayuda, utilizando un cuestionario de experiencias positivas, un cuestionario de oto-neurología, el EuroQoL, y la escala de calificación del impacto del Ménière. La muestra del estudio fue de 542 miembros de la Federación Finlandesa de Ménière. Los resultados mostraron que las preguntas positivas explicaron el 21% de la varianza del EuroQoL TTO, 31% de la medición EuroQoL VAS, y 35% de la escala de impacto de Ménière. Esto se compara con 40% de la varianza explicada por quejas sintomáticas. Cuando se juntaron tanto los síntomas como las medidas positivas, existió una aumento en la proporción de la varianza explicada por el VAS (42%) sobre elescala Ménière (50%), pero no para el TTO (42%). Una perspectiva del trastorno fue la principal experiencia positiva asociada con el aumento de la varianza explicada. Los experiencias positivas tiene un impacto significativo en la calidad de vida auto estimada. Los resultados sugieren que la estimulación de una perspectiva positiva de la condición, además de tratar los síntomas subyacentes, puede ser útil en el manejo rehabilitativo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. Results: Eight positive factors were derived, explaining 59% of the total variance. The main factors were ‘Personal development’, ‘Patient Association’, ‘Perspective on one's disease’, Acceptance of limitations', ‘Beneficial life-effects’ and ‘Use condition to self-advantage’. Of these only ‘Perspective on one's disease’ related significantly to measures of the impact of the condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Patient enablement in a disease or disorder comprises the alleviation of medical symptoms, reduced participation restriction and reinforcement of the positive aspects of the condition. The aim of this study was to determine the aspects of positive experiences related to the impact of Meniere's disorder on the individuals' lives. Study design: A postal survey of the members of the Finnish Meniere's Association included a structured questionnaire on positive experiences that have been reported by people with Meniere's disorder. Results: Detailed analyses revealed 10 questions that loaded on three factors related to the impact of the condition. Five questions loaded on two factors -- 'Relaxation' and 'Perspective on Meniere's disorder', which accounted for 58% in the variance in the psychological impact of the condition. Eight questions loaded on three factors: 'Relaxation' and 'Perspective on Meniere's disorder' and 'Appreciation of support', which accounted for 56% in the variance in the global impact measures. Conclusions: Aspects of self-reported positive experience in Meniere's disorder can predict the impact of the condition describing ways in which it can be improved, its acceptance, and appreciation of those around the individual. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The association of viral infection to inner ear disease is controversial. Experiments on animals show that several viruses are capable of causing hearing loss, if applied into the perilymph. Some of these have specific affinity to the cellular type of the inner ear, as sensory epithelia and cochlear nerve. Some viruses as adenoviruses and Coxsackie virus B have specific CAR receptors that are identified in different cell types, whereas other act by attaching onto nonspecific cellular surface receptors. Some viruses such as varicella zoster virus (VZV) do not cause disease in rodents. We assessed 273 patients with clinical, serological, neuro-otologic and endoscopic evaluations. Of the 273 patients, 43 served as control subjects. The patients either had Ménière's disease (n = 158), recurrent vertigo of unknown etiology (n = 56), or hearing loss (n = 17). Antibodies against neurotropic and common viruses were evaluated. VZV, influenza B, CBV5 and RSV titers were significantly elevated in patients with inner ear disease when compared with the control group. In analyzing the internal relationship, VZV and influenza B were intercorrelated. We did not find a correlation between hearing loss and viral titers. In conclusion, VZV, Coxsackie virus B5 and influenza B virus may be the main causes of inner ear disorder. The spiral and Scarpa's ganglion are potential sites harboring viral DNA for possible latent infection. Copyright © 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]