Alan Desmond

Alan Desmond, AuD, is the director of the Balance Disorders Program at Wake Forest Baptist Health Center, and holds an adjunct assistant professor faculty position at the Wake Forest School of Medicine. He has written several books and book chapters on balance disorders and vestibular function. He is the co-author of the Clinical Practice Guideline for Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV). In 2015, he was the recipient of the President's Award from the American Academy of Audiology.
Aug. 08, 2012

Treatments for Meniere’s disease: Fact, Fiction or Biological Plausibility? Part VII

Alan Desmond
    Ventilating tubes (Myringotomy and tubes) online pharmacy https://artisan-plasticsurgery.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/clonidine.html with best prices today in the USA This is a practice that I have never been personally exposed to in my training and experience. Some physicians believe that the pressure associated with Meniere’s disease can be alleviated by creating an opening between the ear canal and the middle ear. This is accomplished
Jul. 31, 2012

Treatments for Meniere’s disease: Fact, Fiction or Biological Plausibility? Part VI

Alan Desmond
Endolymphatic Sac Decompression When conservative management approaches such as diuretics and a salt restricted diet do not satisfactorily control Meniere’s symptoms, more aggressive approaches may be considered. Surgical procedures for Meniere’s disease fall into two categories: Reparative and Ablative. Endolymphatic Sac Decompression (ESD) is considered reparative. An article from Emedicine.com describes the purpose of the procedure: Endolymphatic Sac Decompression or
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Jul. 25, 2012

Treatments for Meniere’s disease: Fact, Fiction or Biological Plausibility? Part V

Alan Desmond
Meniere’s Treatments: Diuretics   An important consideration when discussing the use of diuretics for Meniere’s disease, is that diuretics are “in addition to” not “instead of” salt restriction. The idea is that if the low salt diet is not working, then adding a diuretic might make the low salt diet more effective. The rationale behind adding a diuretic is explained
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Jul. 17, 2012

Treatments for Meniere’s disease: Fact, Fiction or Biological Plausibility? Part IV

Alan Desmond
Salt –How much is too much or too little? online pharmacy baclofen buy with best prices today in the USA Okay, after a short fourth of July departure, this week we get back on track with our series discussing evidence behind various treatments for Meniere’s disease. The previously mentioned Sunday New York Times article by Gary Taubes reviews salt consumption
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Jul. 10, 2012

Mal de Debarquement Syndrome – What is it?

Alan Desmond
Last year, a young woman from Idaho experienced dizziness and decreased balance after watching fireworks from a boat on the Fourth of July. While she suspected the loud fireworks as the cause, it is more likely that her symptoms were related to a lesser-known phenomenon called Mal de Debarquement (MDD). In this article, we will delve into the intriguing world
Jul. 02, 2012

Happy Fourth of July !

Alan Desmond
  Let’s take a short break from our series on treatments for Meniere’s disease and try and help out this young lady from Idaho. I assume she is better by now, but let’s see if anyone has a theory regarding her experience from last year’s celebration? Fireworks and Vertigo? We watched fireworks last night from our boat and the booms
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Jun. 26, 2012

Treatments for Meniere’s disease: Fact, Fiction or Biological Plausibility? Part III

Alan Desmond
Salt – What’s the connection? A couple of weeks ago, my lovely wife and I celebrated our 19th anniversary. Being the kind and generous type, she surprised me with a new subscription to the Sunday New York Times. I sat down with my crisp paper, hoping for an hour of relaxation, and what do I come across on the front
Jun. 19, 2012

Treatments for Meniere’s disease: Fact, Fiction or Biological Plausibility? Part II

Alan Desmond
A quick review of past studies regarding treatment for Meniere’s disease. Back in 1977, a 25-year review of 834 papers related to treatments for Meniere’s disease was published by Nicholas Torok {{1}}[[1]]Torok N: Old and new in Meniere disease. Laryngoscope 87:1870, 1977[[1]]. His conclusion was that, whatever treatment was attempted, or if no treatment was attempted, between 60% and 80%
Jun. 12, 2012

Treatments for Meniere’s disease: Fact, Fiction or Biological Plausibility? Part I

Alan Desmond
Definition and Practice Patterns A few weeks ago, my curiosity got the best of me, and I decided to look under the covers. No, not those covers. Behave yourself. I started thinking about all the different theories and treatments regarding Meniere’s disease. A wise man would not take a bite from this apple, but much like weird Uncle George mowing the
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May. 22, 2012

Coffee and the Vestibular Patient

Alan Desmond
A few weeks ago, my friend and blog editor, Dr. Holly Hosford Dunn posted a blog about the pros and cons of drinking coffee. I love my morning home brewed Starbucks, yet I have told many patients over the years to avoid caffeine if there was any suspicion of Meniere’s disease. It got me thinking. Where is the evidence? Is