Ménière’s Disease Symptoms 

The symptoms of Ménière’s disease come and go, often appearing suddenly. The attacks are unpredictable and can vary in:

• Duration, lasting 20 minutes to 12 hours
• Frequency, occurring routinely, in clusters, or only occasionally. Attacks are usually more frequent during the first few years of the disease and then happen less often.
• Intensity, causing some people to have a “drop attack” where they suddenly lose their balance and fall

The main symptoms people experience during attacks include:

• Vertigo, a spinning or falling sensation
• Sensorineural hearing loss
• Ringing in one ear (tinnitus), which can also be a rushing or buzzing sound
• Ear pressure or fullness on one side

Typically, Ménière’s disease affects one ear. Over time, about 10% of people also develop symptoms in the other ear. With repeated attacks, hearing loss can become permanent.

Some people with Ménière’s disease can sense that an attack is coming. They may experience hearing loss, ringing in the ears, or ear pressure right before vertigo begins.

The unpredictable nature of Ménière’s disease can cause stress, anxiety, and depression. Severe attacks can also cause severe nausea and vomiting and leave you feeling drained.

Causes of Ménière’s Disease

Ménière’s disease occurs when fluid builds up in the balance and hearing organs of the inner ear. Doctors are not sure why this happens but think it may be due to:

• Autoimmune reactions: Ménière’s disease is associated with autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus and could be autoimmune-related.
• Blood vessel constriction: People who smoke or have vascular disease are more likely to develop Ménière’s disease.
• Genetic abnormalities: Ménière’s disease sometimes runs in families. In these cases, a genetic change may pass from parent to child. 
• Head trauma: Cases of Ménière’s disease have developed after head trauma, especially those that damage the inner ear. 
• Migraine: People with Ménière’s disease may be more likely to experience migraine and people with migraine are more likely to experience Ménière’s disease, suggesting a common cause for both conditions. 

Your clinician will review your medical history and symptoms, including when they occur, what triggers them, and how long they last. They may also recommend tests to confirm the diagnosis or rule out other conditions. Tests may include:

• Dix-Hallpike maneuver to exclude benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)
• Hearing tests to measure hearing loss
• Medical imaging tests, such as a head CT scan or MRI, to look for other inner ear and brain conditions
• Neurological tests to check for changes in brain and nervous system function
• Vestibular tests, including videonystagmography (VNG), video head impulse test (vHIT), and vestibular evoked myogenic potential (VEMP), to assess the nerves that control hearing, balance, and eye muscles