If you are suffering from Ménière’s disease, a long-term, progressive condition affecting the balance and hearing parts of the inner ear. The condition is rare and its cause is unknown. Meniere’s disease affects the inner ear and may cause hearing loss, tinnitus, vertigo and a feeling of pressure deep inside the ear. The symptoms of Meniere’s disease often last two to three hours but it can be as long as one or two days later that the symptoms disappear completely. Symptoms of Ménière’s disease include acute attacks of vertigo (severe dizziness), fluctuating tinnitus, increasing deafness, and a feeling of pressure deep within the ear.

You should see a doctor if you have symptoms that affect your quality of life. If the causes of your symptoms aren’t obvious, you may be referred to an Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) specialist to have further tests. These may include allergy tests, blood tests or a further examination to eliminate other conditions such as sinusitis or nasal polyps. This may involve looking inside your nose with an endoscope, a small flexible instrument with a camera at the end.      

Other tests include a nasal inspiratory flow test (to measure the airflow of your breathing) or computerised tomography (CT scan).

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The treatment of Ménière’s disease is mainly focused on minimising and controlling the symptoms that patients experience, including hearing loss, tinnitus, vertigo and a feeling of pressure deep inside the ear.