Meniere's disease is typically diagnosed by an otolaryngologist. During a clinic visit, your doctor will take your medical history and conduct a physical exam.
An ENT specialist can conduct an examination to diagnose Meniere's disease, which assesses the level of hearing loss, function of the inner ear, and balance.
This treatment is done in your ENT specialist's office one or more times. One type of medication, Gentamicin, eases dizziness but may increase hearing loss and worsen overall balance. Corticosteroids do not cause hearing loss but are less helpful for dizzy spells.
More commonly known as ear, nose and throat physicians (ENTs), Northwestern Medicine otolaryngologists specialize in the diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of diseases and disorders of the head and neck, including Ménière's Disease.
These tests may include: A Dix-Hallpike test to find out if certain head movements trigger vertigo. Hearing tests, including one to find out if the nerve from the inner ear to the brain is working as it should. A test called an electronystagmogram (ENG), which measures your eye movements.
Vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMP) testing.
This test uses sound to make parts of the inner ear active. It records how well muscles react to that sound. It may show common changes in the affected ears of people with Meniere's disease.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan
The MRI scan will not confirm a diagnosis of Ménière's disease, nor will it show which ear is affected or how severe the condition is. During initial investigation it is important to exclude many serious conditions which can cause vertigo or unilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.
Unfortunately, Ménière's disease can be difficult to diagnose because the symptoms are different from patient to patient. Additionally, there are other inner ear disorders that have similar symptoms. Therefore, no standard test that can definitely prove that you have the disorder.
Avoid caffeine and alcohol, which may make symptoms worse. If you smoke, quit. Quitting may help reduce symptoms. Some people find that managing allergy symptoms and avoiding allergy triggers helps decrease Meniere disease symptoms.
Meniere's disease may also require bed rest and diuretic medications in addition to VBAs. Ultimately, once your neurologist has diagnosed the cause of your vertigo, they will provide you with a customized treatment plan to alleviate your symptoms.
Diuretics are the most commonly prescribed maintenance medications for Meniere's disease. Diuretics work by restricting the overproduction of fluid in the inner ear. Diuretics are long-term medications. They help reduce the number of vertigo attacks, and in some cases, they help stabilize hearing.
Though vertigo is a symptom of Meniere's disease, the chronic condition can have multiple other side effects and tends to get progressively worse. On the other hand, vertigo does not necessarily link with a more severe condition, such as Meniere's disease.
The vestibular, or balance system, is located in the inner ear. Therefore, if you are experiencing prolonged, recurrent or sudden dizziness, seeing an otolaryngologist (ENT) and/or an audiologist is a good place to start.
Serious vertigo can cause nausea. Hearing loss. Hearing loss in Meniere's disease may come and go, especially early on.
During the late stage of Ménière's disease, the episodes of vertigo occur far less frequently. There may be months or even several years between attacks or they may stop altogether. However, you may be left with balance problems, and you may be unsteady on your feet, particularly in the dark.
A GP should refer you to see an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist to confirm whether or not you have Ménière's disease. The ENT specialist will check if you have: vertigo, with at least 2 attacks lasting 20 minutes within a short space of time.
Meniere's is a progressive disease, which means it gets worse over time. It may start slowly with occasional hearing loss. Vertigo may develop later.
Ménière disease is a disorder caused by build of fluid in the chambers in the inner ear. It causes symptoms such as vertigo, nausea, vomiting, loss of hearing, ringing in the ears, headache, loss of balance, and sweating.
In this examination, the doctor looks into the ear using an instrument called an otoscope. The otoscope consists of a handle and a cone-shaped attachment called an ear speculum, which contains a tiny lamp and is inserted into the ear canal.
Endolymphatic sac tumor is a rare entity which may masquerade as a classical case of Meniere's syndrome, wherein the triad of symptoms (as in endolymphatic hydrops) may not be alleviated by the usual treatment protocols. Tracing the aetiology of these symptoms, remains the most crucial factor in treating such patients.
How Fast Can Meniere's Disease Attack Progress? The collection of attacks caused by Meniere's disease can last anywhere from 20 minutes to 24 hours. Also, it is possible for these series of attacks to happen repeatedly over a few weeks, months, or even a few years. This condition is just so unpredictable.
Certain stresses and emotional disturbances can trigger episodes of Ménière's symptoms, including working for too long, underlying health conditions, and tiredness. Salt in the diet is another trigger.
They may occur daily or as rarely as once a year. The severity of each attack can vary. Some attacks may be severe and interfere with daily living activities.