Miniere Disease

This is a disease affecting the inner ear which results in three problems:

• Intermittent attacks of vertigo
• Fluctuating hearing loss
• Fluctuating tinnitus

It is a very over-diagnosed condition, but no-one can be diagnosed with Menière's Disease without all three of these symptoms. It can affect one or both ears.

It is thought to be due to an increase of pressure within one of the fluid compartments within the inner ear. When the pressure gets too high, there is a distortion of the hearing, an increase of loudness of tinnitus, and a feeling of fullness in the ear.

These symptoms often precede a severe attack of vertigo and vomiting which can last for several hours (but rarely more than 12 hours). After the attack, the hearing comes back to normal. Over the course of many years, the attacks of vertigo tend to disappear, but the hearing gradually deteriorates.
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