Meniere’s Disease
Meniere’s disease is an inner ear disorder that causes fluctuating hearing problems, vertigo and a ringing sound in the ear, also known as tinnitus. Meniere’s disease usually affects one ear. While it is a chronic disease, treatments and lifestyle changes can help patients manage their symptoms better.
If you have questions or concerns about your ears, nose, and throat, you may book a consultation with Dr Dennis Chua, an ENT specialist in Singapore. He has completed his training in otorhinolaryngology locally and attained qualifications internationally.
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What causes Meniere’s disease?
We don’t know the cause of Meniere’s disease, but doctors believe symptoms of Meniere’s disease are due to an abnormal amount of fluid in the inner ear. Why this happens is not clear. Some possibilities that influence this imbalance in fluid, however, could be:
- Improper fluid drainage that arise from an anatomic abnormality
- An autoimmune disease
- Viral infection
- Genetics
- Head trauma
- Migraines
It is likely that Meniere’s disease comes from a combination of factors.
What are the symptoms of Meniere’s disease?
Meniere’s disease is not an “ongoing” disease that affects patients throughout the day; rather, symptoms tend to come swiftly as “attacks”. These symptoms include:
- A spinning sensation, otherwise known as vertigo. These vertigo attacks can come very suddenly and last anywhere from a few minutes to 24 hours
- Temporary loss of hearing in the affected ear
- Roaring ringing sound in the affected ear (tinnitus)
- Feeling of fullness in the affected ear
- Loss of balance
- Headaches, nausea, vomiting and cold sweats induced by severe vertigo
In a Meniere’s disease attack or episode, you will experience at least two or three of the above symptoms at one time. But as mentioned, these episodes are not ongoing and patients do not experience symptoms in between attacks. In the event that these symptoms occur during a period of no attacks, there might be a possibility that the symptoms are caused by other problems in the ear.
How is Meniere’s disease diagnosed?
Dr Dennis Chua will conduct tests to examine your balance and hearing, including:
Hearing test (audiometry)
A hearing test, or audiometry, is used to check if you have hearing loss. You will be required to put on headphones and listen to noises across a variety of pitches and volumes. You then have to indicate to the technician whether you can or cannot hear a tone. You will also be tested on whether you can differentiate between similar sounds — so in this test, you’ll hear words through headphones and repeat what you hear. This helps Dr Chua determine if you have a hearing problem in one or both ears. People with Meniere’s disease usually have problems hearing low frequencies.
Dr Chua will also do an electrocochleography test to measure electrical activity in your inner ear, as well as an auditory brainstem response to check if your hearing nerves in your brain are functioning. These tests will help determine if your hearing loss is due to a problem with your inner ear or ear nerve.
Balance test
Balance tests, a common one being electronystagmography (ENG), are performed to test the function of your inner ear. In this test, hot and cold water is pushed into your ear as water causes your balance function to work. Electrodes are placed around your eyes to detect involuntary eye movements. Any abnormalities could signal a problem with the inner ear.
How is Meniere’s disease treated?
There is no cure for Meniere’s disease, but symptoms can be eased through motion sickness medication to ease symptoms of vertigo, nausea and vomiting. A diuretic may also be prescribed to reduce the amount of fluid in your body, since Meniere’s disease is thought to be caused by a problem with fluid in the inner ear.
Physical therapy is also an option to improve symptoms of vertigo and condition your brain to get used to the imbalance between your two ears.
In some cases, a hearing aid or the Meniett device, a device that delivers pulses of pressure to the inner ear, may be necessary.
ENT Specialist · Facial Plastic Surgeon
Dr. Dennis Chua
BOARD CERTIFICATION
Double Board Certified Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon (International & European Boards – IBCFPRS & EBCFPRS)
Qualifications
- MBBS (Singapore)
- MRCS (Edinburgh)
- MMed (ORL)
- FAMS (ORL)
- IBCFPRS
- EBCFPRS
Global
Conference speaker
A highly regarded ENT specialist with a fellowship at the University of Virginia under Professor Stephen Park (Past President, American Academy of Facial Plastics & Reconstructive Surgery). Previously Chief of Facial Plastics & Reconstructive Service at Tan Tock Seng Hospital and Honorary Secretary of the Singapore Society of Otolaryngology.
Trained in Da Vinci robotic ENT surgery in South Korea and serves as ENT Lead Tutor at Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine. Has presented at international conferences across America, China, Europe, and Southeast Asia.
Notable awards
Areas of focus
- Robotic ENT Surgery
- Facial Plastics
- Pediatric ENT
- Sleep Apnea
- Rhinoplasty
- Sinusitis
- Allergic Rhinitis