Meniere's disease

Meniere's disease is a disorder that affects the inner ear. It can cause problems with your hearing and balance. There's no cure for the disease, but there are treatments that can help.

Meniere's disease mainly affects adults. Symptoms usually occur as episodes or 'attacks' of vertigo. Some people have many attacks in a short time, while others have attacks less frequently.

Meniere's disease often affects only one ear and can cause hearing loss in that ear.

Symptoms related to Meniere's disease are:

• vertigo — feeling dizzy and losing balance, often causing nausea or vomiting
• tinnitus — a buzzing or ringing sound in your ear
• hearing loss — hearing may become muffled before an episode and change throughout the episode
• fullness in the ear — a feeling of pressure or fullness in your ear

Symptoms may start suddenly, or you may have warning symptoms before, such as vertigo or hearing loss.

Attacks usually last for at least 20 minutes but not more than 24 hours. After the episode, you may feel very tired. Sleeping for a few hours may help you feel better.

Some people with severe Meniere's disease have 'drop attacks'. This means you suddenly fall but stay conscious. Drop attacks are rare, but if you experience them, they can cause injuries or make you feel anxious or stressed about going out.

The exact cause of Meniere's disease is not known, but it's thought to be related to fluid changes in your inner ear.

A special type of fluid naturally occurs in the inner ear — this helps you sense movement and maintain your balance. The fluid normally shifts in response to changes in your movement. The nerves in your inner ear send signals about these changes to your brain.

In Meniere's disease, there is a build-up of fluid in the inner ear. Over time, this can damage the cells responsible for hearing and balance.

Doctors don't fully understand why this fluid build-up happens, but possible causes include:

• problems with the ear from birth
• genetic ear problems, passed down from parents
• ear infections or injuries

Stress can affect Meniere's disease by making attacks more frequent or severe.

See your doctor if you have symptoms of Meniere's disease. Having a doctor's diagnosis can help you access effective treatment.

There is no single test to confirm that you have Meniere's disease. Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history and examine your ears.

To diagnose Meniere's disease, your doctor will check:

• if you've had 2 or more vertigo attacks — each lasting at least 20 minutes but not more than 24 hours
• for hearing loss with a hearing test
• for tinnitus or a feeling of fullness or pressure in the ear

Your doctor may also refer you for other tests to rule out other diseases with similar symptoms. They may refer you for a:

• hearing test
• balance test
• computed tomography (CT) scan
• magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan

There is no cure for Meniere's disease. Treatments can help manage your symptoms.

You may need to adapt certain daily activities at times due to symptoms of Meniere's disease. Symptoms of Meniere's disease can vary over time and can unexpectedly affect your balance and hearing. Many people develop strategies and routines that help them continue their usual activities with confidence.

Adjustments to daily activities can help you manage your symptoms safely and effectively. An occupational therapist may be able to help you identify practical strategies to support independence and daily functioning. Be especially careful when climbing ladders or operating heavy machinery, especially if your symptoms are active.

The impact of Meniere's disease on driving varies between individuals. Talk to your doctor about driving and whether you need to inform the road traffic authority in your state or territory.

Meniere's disease doesn't go away completely and can sometimes worsen over time. Symptoms may even become permanent. Sometimes the frequency and severity of attacks may improve or even stop as time passes.

The Brain Foundation has a fact sheet on the symptoms, causes and treatment options for Meniere's disease (Opens in new tab).