ENT: Hearing Imbalances

“I started out with ringing in my left ear,” said Debbie, sharing her experience of Meniere’s disease at Menieres-Disease.ca. “I went to three doctors when I developed the ringing because it was so loud that it interfered with my daily living. I even had a hard time sleeping at night.”

“The doctor told me that I had an inner ear infection and gave some antibiotics along with … [medicine] for the nausea and sent me home,” Debbie continued. “I noticed that my ear felt like someone had filled it full of water.”

What is Ménière’s Disease?

Ménière’s disease is a disorder of the inner ear that causes severe dizziness (vertigo), ringing in the ears (tinnitus), hearing loss, and a feeling of fullness or congestion in the ear. This is according to an article at the website of National Institute on Deafness and other Communication Disorders (NIDCD). Ménière’s disease usually affects only one ear and can develop at any age, but it is more likely to happen to adults between 40 and 60 years.

Attacks of dizziness may come on suddenly or after a short period of tinnitus or muffled hearing. Some people will have single attacks of dizziness separated by long periods of time. Others may experience many attacks closer together over a number of days. Some people with Ménière’s disease have vertigo so extreme that they lose their balance and fall, according to the article at NIDCD.

Cause and Diagnosis

The cause of Ménière’s disease is unknown, but predisposing factors include ear infection, allergy, head injury and positive family history. This is according to an article on inner ear fluid imbalance by Loyola Medicine at Stritch.luc.edu. An inner ear fluid imbalance is diagnosed by performing a history, physical examination, and hearing test. Sometimes other tests may also be necessary, such as auditory brainstem response (ABR) test, balance test, or a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan.

Treatment

Ménière’s disease does not have a cure yet, but the doctor may recommend certain treatments to help patients cope with the condition. Some of the treatments mentioned in the NIDCD article include:

Medications. Prescribed drugs can help relieve dizziness and shorten the attack.

Salt restriction. Limiting dietary salt and taking water pills can help some people control dizziness by reducing the amount of fluid the body retains and lowering fluid volume and pressure in the inner ear.

Other dietary and behavioral changes. Some people claim that caffeine, chocolate, and alcohol make their symptoms worse. Avoid or limit such foods and drinks in the diet. Not smoking may also help lessen the symptoms.

Cognitive therapy. Cognitive therapy is a type of talk therapy that helps people focus on how they interpret and react to life experiences. Some people find cognitive therapy helps them cope better with the unexpected nature of attacks and reduces anxiety about future attacks.

Injections. Injecting antibiotic into the middle ear helps control vertigo but significantly raises the risk of hearing loss because it can damage the microscopic hair cells in the inner ear that help us hear.

Surgery. Surgery may be recommended when all other treatments have failed to relieve dizziness.

Alternative medicine. Although scientists have studied the use of some alternative medical therapies in Ménière’s disease treatment, there is no evidence to show the effectiveness of therapies such as acupuncture or acupressure, or herbal supplements such as gingko biloba, or ginger root. If using alternative therapies, patients are advised to inform the doctor as such therapies may sometimes impact the effectiveness or safety of conventional medicines.

Ménière's Disease: What Is It & How Is It Treated?

by The Dr Bob Show

For professional help with ear imbalance or Ménière’s disease, please consult a doctor or an otolaryngologist.