It has now been 13 years since my vestibular neurectomy, and it ended up being the best decision I ever made for my Ménière’s. I’m back to a somewhat normal life, although I’ve lost about 80 percent of the hearing in my right ear and have high pitched tinnitus in the same ear 24/7. 

While significant challenges remain, ongoing efforts in genetic research, immunology, and clinical trials offer hope for better management and potential cures for Ménière’s disease in the future.

This study suggests that this class of neurons may compensate for age-related loss of vestibular function to maintain balance performance in older animals.

Future treatments for hearing loss—including gene therapy—could come to rely on a tiny 3D-printed microneedle.

The symposium aims to spur collaborative thinking and projects among Ménière’s disease researchers and clinicians to stimulate advances in better understanding and treating Ménière's disease

I have bilateral Ménière’s disease and at times have suffered greatly from the vertigo attacks and subsequent symptoms afterward, so HHF’s mission is near and dear to my heart and I’d like to contribute a little here and there.

I currently work with a mouse model with hearing fluctuation and have a clinical protocol that is performing deep phenotyping of patients with hearing instability, including patients with Ménière’s disease.

Activity by special neurons called unipolar brush cells reveals that they may introduce delays or increase the length of firing responses, and presumably extend vestibular sensory representations. 

The 218 planned gift commitments total an estimated $30 million to $50 million, 100 percent of which will be used to fund scientific research on hearing loss and related conditions.  

Getting the diagnosis at age 17 made me feel like I couldn't really be a teenager and enjoy my time as a teen. Over time, I accepted it as a part of my life but also learned how to change my lifestyle to be able to live the life I want to live. 

I think it would be a good idea if we as hearing impaired individuals wear a button, like a campaign button, that says, “HI” and underneath it says, “hearing impaired.”  That way people will know to face us when they speak, and to speak more slowly or loudly.

As of this year, our general hearing health grants have been renamed Elizabeth M. Keithley, Ph.D. Early Stage Investigator Awards in recognition of Keithley’s impact on the field and long service to HHF, and the awards’ focus on supporting the next generation.