Meniere's Disease Prognosis

Symptoms of Meniere's disease are tinnitus (ringing of the ears), pressure in the ear, hearing loss and vertigo attacks. Although there is no cure for Meniere's, the disease often abates. For others, hearing loss and disabling vertigo (false perception of spinning) continue.

Causes

• The symptoms of Meniere's are believed to be caused by excess fluid in the inner ear (endolymphatic hydrops), according to the Chicago Dizziness and Hearing Clinic. Why this fluid dysfunction occurs is unknown.

Prognosis 1: Monitoring

• The Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis says that more than half of Meniere's patients will be vertigo-free within two years.

Prognosis 2: Dietary Changes

• Dietary changes are helpful. Primarily, patients need to restrict salt intake to help prevent fluid build-up. Doctors recommend avoiding caffeine and alcohol.

Prognosis 3: Prescriptions Drugs

• In many cases, dietary changes are not enough. Diuretics are then prescribed to reduce inner ear fluid. Other drugs, such as meclizine and diazepam, are prescribed to lessen the severity of vertigo attacks.

Prognosis 4: Invasive Treatment

• Vertigo attacks and hearing loss continue for about 10 percent of patients and invasive treatment might be necessary, according to the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary. The first surgery is placing a shunt in the endolymphatic sac to drain excess inner-ear fluid. If this fails, the next step is to sever the vestibular nerve--the nerve that sends balance signals to the brain. An alternative is chemotherapy injections into the inner ear to destroy vestibular function.