How Meniere’s Disease Affects The Ears

Meniere’s disease is a condition of the inner ear that can lead to balance and hearing issues in patients. It’s composed of excess fluid in the inner ear that creates unnecessary pressure. While males and females of all ages can develop Meniere’s disease, it’s most common in adults in their 40s and 50s. Those with a family history of this disease are seven times more likely to develop it.

The Signs Of Meniere’s Disease

Doctors are able to diagnose Meniere’s disease based on some key patient symptoms. These include:

• Vertigo
• Hearing Loss
• Tinnitus
• Inner Ear Pressure

Meniere’s disease comes and goes in episodes. When a patient experiences one of these episodes, their pupils will move from side to side. This symptom is nystagmus. During an episode, patients may also experience brain fog and fatigue.

What Are The Stages Of Meniere’s Disease?

Meniere’s disease has three states, which are early, mid, and late. During the early stage, a patient will experience vertigo. These episodes can last for as little as 20 minutes or up to an entire day. During an episode, the patient will have fullness in their ear as well as partial or full hearing loss. These other symptoms will fade away as the vertigo does.

During mid stage Meniere’s disease, the vertigo episodes will vanish for several months. Patients will note an increase in their tinnitus and loss of hearing symptoms.

During the late stage, some patients may reexperience vertigo episodes. Others may not ever experience this symptom again. Hearing loss and tinnitus are worse than during mid stage. During this late stage, patients will have balance issues and may feel more unsteady in the dark.

How Does Meniere’s Disease Affect The Ears?

Regular hearing care practices are great for hearing health. But, Meniere’s disease can affect your hearing in negative ways. The added pressure inside of your ears can lead to tinnitus or ringing in the ear. This has no cure, but you can reduce it with noise therapy and by reducing your exposure to known triggers.

Meniere’s disease can also affect your ability to hear. Those who have this disease notice a decreased ability to hear different frequencies. Some may have trouble hearing low-pitch sounds. Others may have more difficulty hearing high-pitched noises. At first hearing loss may come and go, which can make it more difficult to diagnose. Once diagnosed, hearing aids can help to enhance your hearing abilities.

Call Us Today

If you’re experiencing symptoms of hearing loss, then it’s time to give us a call. Let our hearing care professionals assess your situation. We can provide you with customized treatment recommendations.