ENT · Ear, nose and throat

Ménière’s disease

Understand vertigo attacks associated with tinnitus and hearing loss.

Editorial publication · Medical review pending.

Understand

Ménière’s disease is a rare inner-ear condition that affects hearing and balance.

Attacks of vertigo, nausea, tinnitus, ear pressure and fluctuating hearing loss are characteristic.

The mechanism probably involves altered inner-ear fluid, but the exact cause is unknown.

Diagnosis uses the attack pattern, fluctuating hearing and exclusion of other causes of vertigo.

Audiometry, vestibular assessment and sometimes MRI check hearing, balance and alternative diagnoses.

Attacks are unpredictable; hearing may gradually decline and symptoms change over time.

Attack medicines, individual dietary measures, vestibular rehabilitation, hearing aids or specialist procedures may help.

Seek assessment for repeated vertigo with tinnitus, ear pressure or hearing loss.

A first sudden vertigo attack with weakness, speech difficulty, severe headache, chest pain or sudden hearing loss needs urgent assessment.

A procedure linked to a condition does not establish an indication for your individual situation.