Main content Ménière's Disease

Ménière's Disease

Topic Overview

Picture of the anatomy of the ear

What is Ménière's disease?

Ménière's (say "men-YEERS") disease is an Reference inner ear Opens New Window Reference Opens New Window problem that affects your hearing and balance.

The disease usually occurs in people ages 40 to 60. It affects both men and women. Rarely, children also can have Ménière's disease.

What causes Ménière's disease?

The cause of Ménière's disease is not known. It may be related to fluids that build up in the inner ear.

What are the symptoms?

Ménière's disease can cause symptoms that come on quickly. During a Ménière's attack, you may have:

Reference Tinnitus Opens New Window, a low roaring, ringing, or hissing in your ear.
Hearing loss, which may be temporary or permanent.
Reference Vertigo Opens New Window, the feeling that you or your surroundings are spinning.
A feeling of pressure or fullness in your ear.

An attack can last from hours to days. Most people have repeated attacks over a period of years. Attacks usually become more frequent during the first few years of the disease and then come less often after that.

How is Ménière's disease diagnosed?

To diagnose the disease, your doctor will do a physical exam and ask you questions about your past health. Hearing tests or other tests, such as an Reference MRI Opens New Window, may be done to make sure you don't have other conditions.

How is it treated?

Treatment helps control your symptoms, such as vertigo. Medicines for the inner ear may be used to reduce the spinning feeling of vertigo. Other medicines may help the nausea or vomiting caused by vertigo.

Some people may be able to have fewer attacks by:

Eating a low-salt diet.
Using medicines (Reference diuretics Opens New Window) to get rid of extra fluids.
Doing exercises to improve balance.
Avoiding caffeine, alcohol, tobacco, and stress.

Doctors sometimes use surgery to relieve the symptoms of Ménière's disease. But surgery can damage your hearing, so it is usually used only after all other treatments have not worked.

Frequently Asked Questions

Learning about Ménière's disease:	Reference What is Ménière's disease? Reference What causes it? Reference Can I prevent it? Reference What are the symptoms? Reference What happens in Ménière's disease? Reference What raises my risk?
Being diagnosed:	Reference Who can diagnose Ménière's disease? Reference How is it diagnosed?
Getting treatment:	Reference How is Ménière's disease treated? Reference What medicines will I need to take? Reference Will I need surgery?
Ongoing concerns:	Reference Will my hearing loss be permanent? Reference Can eating less salt help? Reference Reference How can I eat less salt? Reference Reference What kind of exercises can help with Ménière's disease?
Living with Ménière's disease:	Reference What can I do at home to ease symptoms of Ménière's disease? Reference Reference How can I make sure my home is safer during attacks of vertigo?

By:	Reference Healthwise Staff	Last Revised: Reference April 12, 2012
Medical Review:	Reference Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine Reference Barrie J. Hurwitz, MD - Neurology

This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Reference Terms of Use. Reference How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.