Meniere’s Disease
What is Meniere’s Disease?
Meniere’s disease is a problem of the inner ear that can lead to vertigo (dizzy spells) and hearing loss. It typically affects only one ear. Some individuals will have single attacks of vertigo separated by long periods of time, while others may experience multiple attacks over a number of days. Sometimes the vertigo is so extreme that an individual will lose their balance and fall (called “drop attacks”).
Meniere’s disease is most common in people in their 40s and 50s. Approximately 615,000 individuals in the U.S. have a current diagnosis of Meniere’s disease, with approximately 45,500 new cases diagnosed each year.
What are the Symptoms of Meniere’s Disease?
Symptoms, can include:
- Regular dizzy spells that usually last 20 minutes to 12 hours, but no more than 24 hours
- Loss of balance
- Hearing loss
- Tinnitus (ringing in the ear)
- Feeling of fullness/pressure in the ear
- Headaches
What Causes Meniere’s Disease?
While the cause of the disease is not known, symptoms may be due to extra fluid (called endolymph) in the ear. Issues that can affect this fluid includes poor fluid drainage, autoimmune disorders, genetics, and/or viral infection.
How is Meniere’s Disease Diagnosed?
In order to meet the diagnostic criteria for Meniere’s disease, an individual must have had two or more vertigo attacks, hearing loss, and tinnitus or a feeling of pressure in the ear. Tests performed by a healthcare provider will include a hearing assessment, a balance assessment, and tests that study how the inner ear is working. Often other tests, including labs and imaging, will be used to rule out other conditions.
What is the Treatment for Meniere’s Disease?
There is no cure for Meniere’s disease and no treatment for any resulting permanent hearing loss. Treatments are instead aimed at lessening vertigo attacks and preventing hearing loss from getting worse.
Treatments include:
- Motion sickness medications
- Anti-nausea medications
- Diuretics
- Lifestyle changes including a low-salt diet, consuming less caffeine and managing stress
- Vestibular rehabilitation
- Hearing aids
- Middle ear injections
- Pressure pulse treatment
- Endolymphatic sac surgery (relieves pressure around the endolymphatic sac, which can improve fluid levels)
- Labyrinthectomy (parts of the ear that cause vertigo are removed, which causes complete hearing loss in the affected ear)
- Vestibular nerve section (the vestibular nerve is cut to block information about movement for getting to the brain, to improve vertigo)
Meniere’s disease can interfere with an individual’s ability to work or carry out daily tasks. If you have been diagnosed with Meniere’s disease and are worried that it may be impeding your ability to continue to safely practice on patients, you should speak with an experienced disability insurance attorney.
These posts are for informative purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for consultation with and diagnosis by a medical professional. If you are experiencing any of the symptoms described above and have yet to consult with a doctor, do not use this resource to self-diagnose. Please contact your doctor immediately and schedule an appointment to be evaluated for your symptoms.
Sources:
Mayo Clinic
Johns Hopkins
Cleveland Clinic
National Institute of Health
