Ménière's Disease

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Topic Overview

What is Ménière's disease?

Illustration of the anatomy of the ear Ménière's (say "mun-YAIRZ") disease is a disorder of the inner ear that affects hearing and balance. It causes sudden attacks of vertigo (a spinning sensation), tinnitus (a loud ringing in the ears), and a loss of hearing that may become permanent.

Ménière's disease usually develops between the ages of 40 and 60 and affects both men and women.¹ Children can also have Ménière's disease.

What causes Ménière's disease?

The cause of Ménière's disease is unknown, but it may be related to a fluid imbalance in the inner ear.

What are the symptoms?

During an attack, Ménière's disease causes symptoms that include:

A low-pitched roaring, ringing, or hissing in the ear (tinnitus).
Hearing loss, which may be temporary or permanent.
Vertigo, which is the feeling that you or your surroundings are spinning or whirling.
A feeling of pressure or fullness in the ear.

How is Ménière's disease diagnosed?

Ménière's disease can usually be diagnosed based on your medical history and a physical exam. If your health professional is uncertain, hearing tests or imaging tests, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be done to rule out other conditions.

How is it treated?

Treatment focuses on reducing the severity of the vertigo until the attack ends. For some people, it may be possible to reduce the frequency of attacks by eating a diet low in salt and using a medication (diuretic) to rid the body of excess fluids and doing exercises to improve balance.

Medications that affect the inner ear, called vestibular suppressants, may be used to reduce the whirling or spinning sensations of vertigo. Medications that reduce nausea and vomiting (antiemetics) can also be effective in relieving those symptoms.

Frequently Asked Questions

Learning about Ménière's disease:	What is Ménière's disease? What causes Ménière's disease? Can I prevent Ménière's disease? What are the symptoms of Ménière's disease? What happens in Ménière's disease? What increases my risk for Ménière's disease?
Being diagnosed:	Who can diagnose Ménière's disease? How is Ménière's disease diagnosed?
Getting treatment:	How is Ménière's disease treated? What medications will I need to take? Will I need surgery?
Ongoing concerns:	Will my hearing loss be permanent? Should I eat a low-salt diet? Will exercises relieve symptoms of Ménière's disease?
Living with Ménière's disease:	What can I do at home to relieve symptoms of Ménière's disease? How can I make my home safer during episodes of vertigo?

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Last updated:	November 07, 2006
Author:	Ralph Poore
Reviewed By:	Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine, Barrie J. Hurwitz, MD - Neurology
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Pat Truman

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