Meniere’s disease is a chronic disorder of the inner ear. It can cause vertigo, a full feeling in the ear and fluctuating hearing loss.
What are the symptoms of Meniere’s disease?
We already mentioned that Meniere’s can cause episodes of vertigo. Vertigo is a sensation of spinning or movement where you feel like you or the world around you is moving, even when you are not. Typically, these episodes can last anywhere from 20 minutes to a full day. It can be so severe that it can actually cause vomiting.
Another symptom is fluctuating sensorineural hearing loss. This then leads to a poor understanding of speech, sensitivity to loud sounds and hearing loss of lower frequency sounds.
Meniere’s can cause tinnitus. Tinnitus is a perception of sound in your ears which could present as a buzzing, ringing or whooshing sound even though there is no physical sound.
Another symptom is experiencing a fullness in the ear. This can feel like pressure and sounds can seem muffled. It can feel as though the ear needs to “pop” but cannot be cleared as it usually would.
What are the treatments for Meniere’s disease?
Generally, most people first seek help for Meniere’s due to the dizziness that comes with vertigo. Any kind of unusual dizziness should always be discussed with a medical professional. If they suspect that you may be suffering from Meniere’s, they may refer you to an ENT department or audiologist.
Sadly, there is no cure, only the option of managing the symptoms. There are a range of medications available to take for treating vertigo and your GP will be able to recommend the best type for you. In some severe cases, people can be treated with injections or steroids to help manage the vertigo.
Hearing aids can be prescribed to sufferers to help with the hearing loss. Often hearing aids also have a tinnitus masking program which can also assist with the tinnitus. Most hearing aids can be controlled via an app meaning you can switch between different settings / programs easily. This is great for those suffering with fluctuating hearing loss.
If you need any further advice, or would like to book in for an appointment with one of our hearing care professionals, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
