Vertigo and dizziness for anywhere from a few minutes to several hours, with a sense of imbalance remaining for several days afterward Nausea and vomiting during a vertigo episode Pressure or fullness in one or both ears A ringing or buzzing in one or both ears (tinnitus) Difficulty hearing, especially low-pitched sounds
Audiometry: This hearing test evaluates how well you detect sounds at different pitches and volumes, as well as how well you can distinguish between similar sounding words. Videonystagmography (VNG): This test looks at your eye movement to assess your balance by looking at how well you can move your head while keeping your eyes focused on a single point. Rotary-chair testing: This test also measures your eye movement to assess your balance while you’re sitting in a rotating chair. Vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMP) testing: This test detects changes in your inner ear that are typical of people with Meniere’s disease. Video head impulse test (vHIT): This test measures how well your eyes retain focus when your head is abruptly moved. Electrocochleography (ECoG): This test helps determine the buildup of fluid in your inner ear by evaluating how your inner ear responds to sounds.
The same symptoms may also be present if you have frequent migraines, stroke, multiple sclerosis, or various heart or blood vessel diseases. [5] X Research source Occasionally, similar symptoms can be caused by a brain problem, such as a tumor. Although this is also rare, your doctor may order an MRI or CT scan of your brain just to rule it out before making a final diagnosis. [6] X Research source
Prochlorperazine may be prescribed if you have problems with vomiting or nausea during episodes of vertigo. Antihistamines may also be prescribed to treat vertigo, nausea, and vomiting. There’s also a medication called betahistine that can reduce the frequency and severity of Meniere’s attacks. Your doctor also may prescribe diuretics to reduce fluid retention, which can help your body regulate the volume of fluid in your inner ear. [8] X Research source
Gentamicin: This antibiotic is toxic to your inner ear, forcing your unaffected ear to assume responsibility for balance. An injection of this drug runs the risk that you’ll have further loss of hearing. Steroids: These drugs have helped control vertigo in some people. If they work for you, they may be preferable to gentamicin because there’s a lower chance of additional hearing loss.
Finding a hearing aid that works well for you can involve a little trial and error, so it’s important to be patient. Hearing aids can also be difficult to adjust wearing if you’re not accustomed to them.
Endolymphatic sac procedure: The endolymphatic sac is decompressed to drain excess fluid levels, which may reduce the feeling of fullness or pressure in your ear. Labyrinthectomy: The balance and hearing functions from the affected ear are removed completely. This procedure is generally only recommended if you already have total or near-total hearing loss. Vestibular nerve section: The nerve that connects the balance and movement sensors in your inner ear to your brain is cut. Usually, this procedure is successful at correcting problems with vertigo while keeping your hearing intact.
Check nutritional labels for sodium content. If you have Meniere’s disease, you should eat less than 1,500 mg of sodium a day. People with Meniere’s disease often notice improvement after simply decreasing the amount of salt in their diet.
Try to eat at roughly the same amount of food at each meal and schedule your meals so that you’re eating at the same times every day. Hunger can cause your body to retain fluid, which may worsen your symptoms.
If you don’t want to quit caffeine and alcohol completely, at least work on minimizing your intake. For example, you might only have one cup of coffee in the morning instead of 2 or 3. If you notice improvement in your symptoms, you may want to decrease your intake further.
Typically, it’s easier to quit if you cut down gradually before quitting completely. Nicotine replacement therapy, such as gum, lozenges, or the patch, can also help. However, since the nicotine itself is thought to trigger attacks, you might not notice any decrease in the severity or frequency of attacks while you’re on nicotine replacement therapy.
In some situations, a psychiatrist might recommend medication to treat anxiety or depression. These medications help reduce the frequency and severity of Meniere’s attacks for some people. [17] X Research source
You can practice sound therapy at home simply by opening a window to bring in sounds from outside or leaving on a radio or television in the background. You can also use sound generators that produce natural sounds or white noise. There are also sound apps available for smartphones if you need to take your sound therapy on the go. [19] X Research source
By replacing negative coping strategies with more positive ones, you can learn to better manage attacks when they arise. Because you’re better able to cope with your symptoms, you may find that they seem less severe.
There are also VRT booklets and videos that you can use to practice these exercises on your own. However, discuss this with your doctor before you go the self-help route.
If you and your doctor decide to try this treatment, your doctor will show you how to use the device. Then, you’ll take the device home with you and perform the treatment yourself, usually for about 5 minutes 3 times a day.
