Every year, about 45,500 people are newly diagnosed with Meniere's disease, an inner ear disorder. While there is no cure, a variety of treatments, therapies and lifestyle changes can improve the condition. Hearing aids may also alleviate some of the most distressing symptoms and allow sufferers to regain control of their lives.
Meniere’s disease is a chronic, progressive inner ear disorder. It is most often characterized by sudden spells of dizziness (vertigo), accompanied by tinnitus, ear pressure or a feeling of fullness, and hearing loss. (Typically, only one ear is affected.) Symptoms come and go, and an “episode” can come on suddenly or in bursts over several days. Over the course of many years, the disease typically progresses through three stages of advancement, where the frequency of vertigo attacks decrease but hearing loss and tinnitus may progress.
There is no cure for the condition, and in advanced stages, it can be debilitating and significantly affect the sufferer's quality of life. Patients may find relief and avoid permanent hearing damage through medications, treatments and the use of hearing aids for the hearing loss associated with Meniere’s disease.
This condition presents various symptoms, caused by fluid buildup in the inner ear. Meniere’s disease symptoms can include:
Doctors have not identified a single Meniere’s disease cause. According to the National Institutes on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, there are a number of theories about the root cause or trigger of Meniere’s disease, including:
Cognitive behavior therapy or talk therapy can help patients manage the psychological and emotional challenges that often come along with chronic illnesses. A therapist can help you develop coping mechanisms to deal with life-altering symptoms like dizziness, tinnitus and hearing loss.
The good news is Meniere’s disease treatment often does work. One study¹ found that more than 87% of patients who underwent a year of treatment and therapies for Meniere’s disease experienced preserved or improved hearing at low frequencies. Additionally, 40% of affected ears in the study were restored to, or maintained at, a normal hearing level.
New and developing research suggests a hearing loss-brain health connection, as well as connections with vestibular disorders including Meniere’s disease. In 2023, researchers from Johns Hopkins University² found that, older adults with hearing loss as well several comorbidities (i.e. other diseases such as diabetes or heart disease) were at a higher risk for dementia.
Those who had hearing loss and comorbidities, but who used hearing aids, experienced a nearly 50% reduction in the rate of cognitive decline, compared to those who did not use hearing aids. For those who suffer hearing loss due to Meniere’s disease, there seems to be promising signs that hearing aids could offer similar cognitive benefits.
If you’re dealing with symptoms related to Meniere’s disease, including tinnitus, hearing loss, stress or vertigo, don’t put off seeking diagnosis by a physician. Meniere’s disease is a progressive condition, meaning if left untreated, it can worsen over time.
Consult your doctor and they may recommend that you visit a Miracle-Ear hearing center to learn more about your hearing options. Our hearing health care specialists can recommend Miracle-Ear advanced hearing aids that address specific challenges related to Meniere’s disease. Call today or book an appointment online and start your journey toward healthy hearing.
