Meniere’s Disease: The Inner-Ear Disorder Behind Vertigo and Hearing Loss

December 10, 2025

Meniere’s Disease: The Inner-Ear Disorder Behind Vertigo and Hearing Loss

Verified By
KIMS-SUNSHINE
Specialist,
10 December, 2025

Meniere’s Disease, also called idiopathic endolymphatic hydrops is a condition where for some unknown reason, a few individuals have issues with endolymph accumulation in the inner ear- this is also where the centre of balance resides in the body. It is how you are able to stand up straight or feel balanced to go about your day like always. When this region gets affected due to endolymph fluid collection, it can lead to a sense of vertigo, tinnitus (a shrill ringing in your ears that starts and stops randomly) – and the risk of developing this condition increases as you advance in age. Meniere’s disease needs to be diagnosed and treated in a timely fashion. If it is left untreated, a person may lose hearing totally and continue to have balance related issues, leading to falls which can be risky.

Causes Of Meniere’s Disease

Though the exact cause for this disease remains unknown, scientists think that an excessive amount of endolymph in the ear canal can cause symptoms, as it can muffle hearing and mess with balance related signals that need to go back and forth from the brain continuously. Some of the causes that have been hypothesised to cause this condition include

Ear blockage of any kind.
Head injuries or trauma
Infections which were not treated properly
Severe migraines
If you have frequent allergies- which means an overactive immune system may also be causing damage to the inner ear canal.

How To Diagnose Vertigo Disorders?

An ENT specialist needs to first do a physical exam and then a neurological exam, before this condition can be diagnosed. A hearing test is done to see how well you can hear. A vestibular test battery is done to check how you react to any stimulus – and is done to check how well you balance and to check vision cues which feed into how you balance yourself.

A contrast brain MRI may be done in rare cases, to check if there is any tumour and to rule out any other issue that may be causing hearing loss.

Meniere’s Disease Treatment Options

There is no proper treatment for this condition though antibiotics (to clear any infection) and antidiuretics are given- to help control fluid amounts in the body. Anti-vertigo medications are also given. In the long term though, you will need to eat less sodium, and you may need to use a hearing implant or device. Other treatments like pressure pulse treatment are also available, though doctors are not sure about how effective they may be for you.

Conclusion

Surgical procedures are the last part of treatment and can greatly address symptoms related to vertigo and poor balance. Placing a stent so there is better endolymph drainage can be done, after excess endolymph has been removed – using the endolymphatic sac procedure. The vestibular nerve may be cut, to help you balance better- if it is firing errantly and to stop vertigo permanently. A labyrinthectomy is a last resort – as it is done after hearing loss has occurred- where the inner part of the ear responsible for keeping your balance- i.e the labyrinth is surgically removed. If you don’t already have hearing loss, then getting this procedure done can render you deaf and unable to hear anything, which is why this approach is not recommended often. Meniere’s disease is chronic and you may not have symptoms for a long time but they may come right back all of a sudden. Keeping your medications handy and resting can help you, when an episode has begun.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Meniere’s disease?

Meniere’s disease is a disorder of the inner ear caused by abnormal fluid buildup, which affects balance and hearing. The condition begins to develop in one ear and can occur in episodes that vary in frequency and intensity.

What are the symptoms of Meniere’s?

Key features include sudden episodes of vertigo (spinning sensation), fluctuating hearing loss, tinnitus (ringing or buzzing in the ear) and a feeling of fullness or pressure in the affected ear. Nausea and imbalance often accompany vertigo attacks.

Can Meniere’s cause permanent hearing loss?

Repeated episodes may gradually damage inner-ear structures, leading to permanent hearing loss in the affected ear. Early diagnosis and careful management help slow progression and protect hearing.
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What lifestyle changes help manage Meniere’s?

Reducing salt intake lowers fluid retention in the inner ear. Limiting caffeine and alcohol can reduce symptom triggers. Stress management, regular sleep patterns and gentle physical activity support balance and overall wellbeing. Avoiding sudden head movements during attacks helps prevent falls.

Are there medications for vertigo and dizziness?

Short-term use of anti-vertigo medications such as betahistine, meclizine or vestibular suppressants may relieve acute episodes. Diuretics can help control inner-ear fluid in some patients. Treatment plans are tailored to frequency and severity of attacks, and ongoing follow-up with an ENT specialist or audiologist ensures optimal management.