Menieres with Vestibular System Now Inactive... Very Interesting!

I observed a male client in his 70s that came in with an interesting history. Sometime before 5 years ago, the client experienced many intense spells of vertigo. After consulting a physician, he was diagnosed with Menieres Disease. The spells were bad enough that the client went through either a vestibular nerve section or a labyrinthectomy, which I did not get from the client. IA vestibular nerve section is a severence of the vestibular section of the vestibulocochlear nerve, and a labyrinthectomy is removal of the vestibular organ ("Meniere's Disease", 2001). Overall, the vestibular system of the right side was nonfunctioning. He also complained that he now staggers a bit since the surgery. The client also complained of issues with hypertension, macular degeneration, hemochromatosis, colin cancer, and an allergy to codine. He has had exposure to noise through hunting. He has been wearing an Audibel CIC for four years and is now interested in a Unitron WiFi CROS.
Otoscopy was normal for both ears. Tymps were unable to be performed due to the inability to get a seal by the clinician which was okayed by the supervisor. Speech recognition scores were 30dB for the right ear, and no response for the left, dead ear. Word recognition scores were 96% at a sensation level of 35dB in the right ear and nontestable for the left ear. The right MCL was 65dB, and the right UCL was 85dB. Puretone testing revealed the left ear to be dead and the right ear to have a mild to profound sensorineural sloping loss. The clinician then ordered the Unitron WiFi CROS. A Unitron 6 ITE was ordered for the right ear with a WiFi mic ordered for the left ear. The total cost was around $1300. Earmold impressions were then taken with both systems in the ITE form.
I found this client to be very interesting. I look forward to his fitting when the CROS comes in. I listed the following websites which have good information on Menieres disease and the Unitron WiFi CROS aid.

Meniere's = http://www.entnet.org/healthinfo/balance/meniere.cfm
Unitron = http://www.unitronhearing.us/ccus/about_us/news_us/news_wifimicite_us.htm

Meniere's Disease. (2001). Retrieved February 27, 2008, from http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/balance/meniere.asp