The MMS-10 Tympanic Displacement Analyser (TDA) is a new device to measure the perilymphatic pressure of the human inner ear in a non-invasive way. In this study, the instrument was used in 50 normal hearing subjects (100 ears) in three different conditions: i) sitting upright and supine; ii) in the morning and afternoon; iii) before and after physical exertion. The perilymphatic pressure in supine position was significantly higher than that in upright-sitting position. The measured perilymphatic pressure did not alter during the day, indicating the absence of diurnal variation. Also, the perilymphatic pressure did not change significantly following physical exertion. Our study showed the well known large inter-individual differences in the measurement variables. Nevertheless, the correlation of the test results within one subject and one ear was high. The TDA is an appropriate device for the follow-up perilymphatic and cerebrospinal fluid pressure alternations in subjects and patients with disorders of the inner ear and cerebro-spinal fluid pressure, provided they have a normal middle ear function.

The MMS-10 Tympanic Displacement Analyser is a new device for measuring perilymphatic pressure in humans. This instrument was used in 70 patients with Menière's disease (44 affected ears) and a group of 50 young normal hearing subjects. No significant differences in perilymphatic pressure measurements were found between the groups. Although measurement parameters showed large inter-individual variation in a subgroup of 25 patients, the intra-individual correlation in the subgroup was good. In patients with Meniere's disease no relationship was found between perilymphatic pressure, hearing thresholds, blood pressure, gender or age. There was no difference between unilaterally and bilaterally affected patients.

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The homeostasis of inner-ear fluids is essential for the functions of hearing and equilibrium. Inner-ear disorders, such as Ménière’s disease, are affected by inner-ear pressure. The displacement of the human tympanic membrane can be studied by means of the MMS-10 Tympanic Displacement Analyser (Marchbanks Measurement Systems Ltd., UK) and is thought to be a measure for perilymphatic pressure variations. This measurement was performed in 18 patients with Ménière’s disease (20 affected ears) at regular intervals, in order to investigate possible pressure variations in relation to the following symptoms: hearing loss, vertigo, tinnitus and pressure sensation. Symptoms changed independently; changes in symptoms were not significantly related to changes in perilymphatic pressure, as measured by means of the MMS-10 analyser.

The MMS-10 Tympanic Displacement Analyser in a new device to measure the perilymphatic pressure in humans. This instrument was used in 25 patients with Menière's disease (28 affected ears) and a group of 50 young normal hearing subjects. No significant differences were found in perilymphatic pressure measurements between the groups. Although measurement parameters showed large inter-individual variation, the intra-individual correlation was good. In patients with Menière's disease, no relationship was found between perilymphatic pressure, hearing threshold, blood pressure, gender or age.