Julie Raney is a certified and licensed audiologist. She has a B.S. in Communication Sciences and Disorders and a Master’s Degree in Audiology from Idaho State University. She has worked as a clinical audiologist in Colorado since 2005. She specializes in hearing amplification for adults and delivers her services in both English and Sign Language.

Discovering Meniere’s Disease

First discovered and named for French physician, Prosper Meniere, in 1861 the disease identified a cluster of symptoms and deduced that they all may be related. Before Prosper Meniere’s discovery, the symptoms of Meniere’s disease were believed to be cognitive, though he was able to identify that the root of issues stemmed from issues with the vestibular system. The vestibular system is a sensory system that is responsible for providing our brain with information about motion, head position, and spatial orientation located within the inner ear. It consists of two structures of the bony labyrinth of the inner ear, including the vestibule and the semicircular canals, as well as the structures of the membranous labyrinth contained within both areas.

Symptoms of Meniere’s Disease

The problem with this condition is that it can particularly be elusive to diagnose. The most common symptom is extreme and unpredictable dizziness and vertigo which can often seem to come from nowhere. It is often accompanied by tinnitus (a ringing in the ears from no external source) and a feeling of fullness, congestion, or pressure in the affected ear or ears. Because these symptoms can be attributed to other causes as well such as ear infections and even congestion from a common cold, Meniere’s disease often goes undiagnosed for years. Another elusive aspect of Meniere’s is that it can present in a diverse number of ways. Often it may first present itself as a short case of vertigo that goes away. Attacks may happen sporadically over years and because of changes in medical practitioners, it can be hard to connect isolated cases to the bigger picture of an overlaying condition. For others, Meniere’s disease begins with hearing loss and develops into vertigo and dizziness later, continuing to make it harder to predict.

The Surprising Nature of Attacks

An episode of Meniere’s Disease may seem to come from nowhere. There is little understanding to this day of what makes an attack begins and what causes it to pass. Attacks may up to 20 minutes, a couple of hours even up to a day before symptoms start to disperse leaving a person affected incapacitated and unable to complete everyday tasks. Often these episodes occur in clusters, with a group of attacks occurring over a short period, while other times they may come months apart. In some cases, years pass between attacks contributing to difficulty in connecting symptoms to address Meniere’s.

What May Be the Cause of Meniere’s Disease?

The vestibular system is incredibly complex, fragile, and hard to completely understand when it’s malfunctioning. While doctors understand the idea and mechanics around what causes vertigo. When fluid builds up within the ear’s labyrinth, the organ that regulates balance and hearing, dizziness and vertigo ensure. However, it’s hard to understand exactly why and when.

Hearing is also often affected in people with Meniere’s due to the buildup of fluids within the vestibular system. Endolymph in the cochlea becomes compressed in response to audio vibrations, causing sensory cells that communicate signals to the brain to struggle to deliver audio information.

Treating & Managing Meniere’s Disease

Meniere’s disease affects each person differently, meaning different methods of treatment will work for each patient. Some methods for addressing Meniere’s disease include:

Vertigo medications
Anti-nausea medication
Diuretics reduce the amount of fluid in the inner ear
Dietary changes, including less salt in the diet, allow the body to not retain fluid. In addition, a reduction of caffeine and alcohol can help to reduce water retention
Avoid smoking tobacco
Hearing aids to address any hearing loss

Addressing Hearing Loss

If you struggle with hearing or balance problems, it could be a sign of something bigger. To understand better what is going on we can test your hearing and inspect your ears to understand the bigger picture. Schedule a hearing consultation today.