People suffering from Meniere’s may develop permanent hearing loss. It is important to distinguish Meniere’s from Migraine Disorder for proper treatment of the symptoms.

Audiological tests required

Audiogram (baseline and follow-up/monitor audiograms), Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emissions (DPOAE), Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR), electrocochleography (ECocHG), Videonystagmography (VNG), Vestibular Evoke Myogenic potentials (VEMPs) and Video Head Impulse Test (VHIT).

Treatment

This will vary depending on the patient’s circumstances and the physician’s specific approach. Dietary changes, medication, and other therapy may be implemented to help treat Meniere’s.

Symptoms

Typically a person with Meniere’s will have bouts of dizziness/imbalance, fluctuating hearing loss or distorted hearing, ear pressure, and rushing type tinnitus (roaring or water running like sound). The dizziness related to Meniere’s will typically last a few minutes to hours. During that time nausea, vomiting, and imbalance may occur. The symptoms may or may not all occur at the same time. These bouts may occur regularly, a few times a year, or intermittently over a course of years.

Meniere’s is believed to be caused by an excess of inner ear (cochlear) fluid. The picture depicts an inner ear without the bout of Meniere’s and an inner ear during a bout of Meniere’s.