Meniere’s disease is an inner-ear condition that causes vertigo and tinnitus. It has gained visibility in recent years, with public figures such as Huey Lewis and Ryan Adams speaking publicly about the challenges it causes them. There is no known cure, but the disease can be managed.
What are the effects of Meniere’s disease on the body?
Meniere’s disease is a peripheral vascular disorder. In simple terms, it is a condition that disrupts the functioning of blood vessels in key areas. In this case, around the brain.
This explains the dizziness. The brain plays a central role in our ability to maintain balance. Visual signals are processed there, along with information transmitted by the vestibular system (located in the inner ear) as well as by our muscles and joints.
The disease can degrade quality of life in two ways. First, hearing can be affected: as the disorder progresses, it becomes difficult to hear low or combined frequencies. Second, the disease can cause dizziness. In most cases, only one ear is affected, but according to some estimates, 25% of patients are affected on both sides. The vast majority of those affected are in their forties or fifties.
Affected individuals experience intense attacks, marked by vertigo, hearing loss, and an exaggerated sensation of fullness in the ear. These episodes usually last two to four hours and can be very confusing and frightening.
What are the causes of Meniere’s disease?
Unfortunately, Meniere’s disease remains poorly understood. However, there is a broad consensus on its immediate cause: a variation in the volume of fluid in the inner ear. When this fluid circulates normally in the area of the inner ear called the labyrinth, the brain adapts to movements with precision and proportion. Conversely, the accumulation of fluid seems to distort the signals sent to the brain by disrupting its ability to adjust correctly to movements.
Many factors can alter the volume and concentration of inner ear fluid. Problems that can cause this change include viral infections, allergic reactions, autoimmune reactions, and migraines.
How can Meniere’s disease cause tinnitus?
Tinnitus is a sound perceived by the patient without originating from an external source. It is generally considered a symptom rather than a disease in its own right. Without a tinnitus component, a doctor will not diagnose Meniere’s disease, as it is an inevitable part of it.
Tinnitus related to Meniere’s disease appears in the following way. Over time, the disease damages the hair cells in the inner ear. Initially, the damage is reversible, and the ear regains full function between attacks.
The first cells affected are those that process low-frequency sounds. As they malfunction, the damaged cells send inaccurate and disorganized signals to the brain via the auditory nerve, leading to many unpleasant effects. When the hair cells suffer permanent damage, hearing loss can become permanent.
How severe are the symptoms of tinnitus related to Meniere’s disease?
Tinnitus usually accompanies vertigo attacks and intensifies as they worsen. Although it can occur independently of attacks, many patients find that it follows or closely precedes them.
The symptom most often manifests as a low, fluctuating sound perceived in only one ear. For most patients, tinnitus is not the most distressing effect of the disease, with vertigo being overwhelmingly cited as much more difficult to bear. Nevertheless, a significant minority of 19% consider tinnitus to be the most severe effect of the disease.
What are my treatment options?
In most cases, doctors do not identify the cause of tinnitus. Fortunately, tinnitus caused by Meniere’s disease has a known cause: it can therefore be diagnosed and treated effectively.
In many cases, diuretics and blood pressure medications can alleviate the problem. Certain lifestyle adjustments are also known to improve circulation. As a first step, doctors often advise their patients to reduce their salt intake. In extreme cases, surgery has shown good results in controlling Meniere’s disease.
Ultimately, whatever tinnitus symptoms you are experiencing, we recommend consulting an ENT specialist for a diagnosis. If you conclude that hearing aids may be a suitable solution, we offer many affordable options to try.
