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Meniere's Disease
Reviewed by Medicinsk Expert•Last updated: 2026-10-22•Ear Nose Throat

Meniere's Disease

Meniere's disease is a disorder of the inner ear that commonly causes hearing loss, dizziness, tinnitus, and ear pressure.

Overview

Meniere's disease is a disorder of the inner ear. It is a common cause of hearing loss and usually affects just one ear. Symptoms include severe dizziness, a roaring sound in the ears known as tinnitus, hearing loss that comes and goes, and a feeling of ear pressure or pain.

Symptoms

Attacks of dizziness may occur suddenly or follow a short period of tinnitus or muffled hearing. The experience of these attacks varies by individual:

  • Some people experience single attacks of dizziness occasionally.
  • Others may have many attacks close together over several days.
  • Some individuals experience "drop attacks," where dizziness is severe enough to cause a loss of balance and falls.

Causes

While the exact cause is unknown, scientists believe the condition is related to fluid levels or the mixing of fluids within the canals of the inner ear.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Doctors diagnose Meniere's disease based on a physical exam and the patient's symptoms. A hearing test may be used to determine how the condition has affected the patient's hearing.

There is no cure for Meniere's disease, but several management strategies exist:

  • Medicines to control dizziness.
  • Limiting salt in the diet.
  • Taking water pills.
  • Using a device that fits into the outer ear to deliver air pulses to the middle ear.
  • Surgery for severe cases.

Frequently Asked Questions

Meniere’s attacks usually begin with a low‑frequency “room‑spinning” sensation that lasts from 20 minutes up to several hours, often accompanied by fluctuating low‑frequency hearing loss, a roaring tinnitus, and a feeling of fullness in the same ear. Other vertigo disorders, such as benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), typically last seconds to minutes, are triggered by head position changes, and are not linked to hearing changes. If you notice hearing loss or tinnitus that waxes and wanes with the dizziness, it is more suggestive of Meniere’s disease.
Yes. Short‑acting vestibular suppressants such as meclizine or diazepam can be taken at the onset of an attack to reduce nausea and spinning, and they generally do not affect hearing. For long‑term control, low‑dose diuretics (e.g., hydrochlorothiazide) combined with a low‑salt diet can help regulate inner‑ear fluid without harming auditory function. Intratympanic steroid injections (e.g., dexamethasone) are also used to reduce inflammation and may improve hearing while controlling vertigo.
The strongest evidence supports a low‑sodium diet (≤1500 mg per day) because excess sodium can increase inner‑ear fluid pressure. In addition, limiting caffeine, alcohol, and processed foods that contain monosodium glutamate (MSG) can help. Many patients find that staying well‑hydrated with water (rather than sugary drinks) and eating regular, small meals throughout the day stabilizes fluid balance and reduces attack frequency.
Surgery is usually reserved for patients who have persistent, disabling attacks despite optimal medical therapy (diet, diuretics, vestibular suppressants, and intratympanic steroid or gentamicin injections). The most common procedures are: (1) Endolymphatic sac decompression or shunt, which aims to relieve fluid pressure; (2) Vestibular nerve section, which cuts the balance nerve to stop vertigo while preserving hearing; and (3) Labyrinthectomy, which destroys the inner ear’s balance organ and is chosen when hearing is already poor in the affected ear.
Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine

MedlinePlus brings together authoritative health information from the National Library of Medicine (NLM), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other government agencies and health-related organizations.

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