Hearing loss can be caused by a range of factors including inner ear disorders. This includes meniere’s disease, a condition that can also contribute to balance issues and vertigo. Meniere’s disease, named after the French doctor who first discovered it in 1861, affects an estimated 1 out of 1,500 people. This disease produces symptoms including tinnitus (ringing in the ears), vertigo, hearing loss, as well as pressure in the ear(s). Though this condition is more rare, it can affect people of all ages but the greatest prevalence is among people 40 and over. Meniere’s disease does not have a cure but there are effective ways it can be managed.
What Causes Meniere’s Disease?
Meniere’s disease involves an accumulation of fluid in the inner ear. Though there are no exact causes of this build-up, experts suggest that it can possibly result from viral infections, allergies, autoimmune disease, or damaged blood vessels. Experts also know that meniere’s disease can run in families, leading them to believe that there may be genetic variations or abnormalities that affect fluid levels in the ear.
What Are the Symptoms of Meniere’s Disease?
Identifying symptoms for meniere’s disease can be somewhat complicated. Symptoms can differ from one person to the next and symptoms for meniere’s disease are also shared with numerous other medical conditions. But there are four characteristics that point to meniere’s disease which are:
- Two or more episodes of vertigo that last at least 20 minutes each.
- Tinnitus which describes a ringing or buzzing like noise in the impacted ear.
- The impacted ear feels full, clogged, or like there’s pressure.
- Difficulty hearing speech and sound, hearing loss.
Dizziness caused by meniere’s disease can be experienced in various ways. This includes isolated episodes of dizziness or repeated dizziness. This can be mild to severe, causing a loss of balance and/or falls (referred to as drop attacks).
How Are Balance Issues & Hearing Loss Connected to Meniere’s Disease?
The inner ear not only is crucial for hearing but also balance. The accumulation of fluid in the inner ear that is characteristic of meniere’s disease can affect both hearing and balance systems. The inner ear houses the labyrinth which consists of semicircular canals, otolithic organs, and the cochlea. These components of the vestibular system (sensory system for balance) contain receptors that send signals to the brain about the body’s position and movement.
The cochlea, also in the inner ear, contains thousands of sensory cells which are a critical component of how sound is processed. These hair-like cells convert incoming sound waves into electrical signals that get sent to the brain. The brain continues to process these signals, assigning meaning to them, which is how we are able to understand what we hear. Meniere’s disease involves excess fluid in the inner ear which can interfere with signals being sent from the balance organs as well as the cochlea to the brain. This can lead to balance issues as well as hearing loss.
How is Meniere’s Disease Diagnosed?
It can take some time to diagnose meniere’s disease. This is because symptoms can vary and it can also look like a range of other conditions. Your doctor will likely refer you to a specialist that works with ear related conditions. An ENT (ear, nose, throat) doctor, also referred to as an otolaryngologist, or an audiologist will likely start by discussing your symptoms with you as well as getting a summary of your health history. They may conduct a hearing test which involves a painless and noninvasive process that measures your hearing capacities in both ears. In addition to assessing for hearing loss, they will identify if you experience the key symptoms of meniere’s disease and discuss treatment plans.
How is Meniere’s Disease Treated?
Approaches to managing Meniere’s disease focus on alleviating symptoms and reducing the impact of these symptoms. Strategies may include:
- Medications: medications focus on alleviating common symptoms like dizziness and nausea.
- Injections: steroid injections in the middle ear can help reduce vertigo and dizziness symptoms. .
- Dietary & behavioral changes: working on reducing or eliminating triggers like caffeine, chocolate, alcohol, and nicotine can help alleviate symptoms.
If you experience any of the previously described symptoms, it is important to be evaluated. Contact us to learn more.