While there are multiple causes behind dizziness, including medications and neurological conditions, certain symptoms can point to Meniere’s Disease, an inner ear disorder, managed by Otolaryngology’s Vestibular program. Meniere's Disease symptoms include rotational spinning, accompanied by fluctuating hearing loss, ringing in the ears and a sense of fullness in the affected ear.
Meniere's Disease Treatment
Before beginning treatment for Meniere's Disease, an audiologist will perform a hearing evaluation, along with a physical exam to determine if an inner ear condition is present. Following diagnosis, a course of treatment is chosen depending on the level of hearing loss in the affected ear and whether medical intervention has proven effective. Intra-Tympanic Steroid Injections, absorbed by the inner ear, are one medical treatment for Meniere's Disease that does not require surgical intervention.
Should surgery be required, a VNG test will first be performed by an audiologist as an assessment of balance function. Surgical treatment options for Meniere's Disease will then be determined by patient preference and the degree of functional hearing remaining in the affected ear. For those who have severe hearing loss in the affected ear, an outpatient procedure, called a labyrinthectomy, may be suggested. Because this procedure results in the loss of any remaining hearing in that ear, rehabilitative hearing options will also be discussed with the patient. In patients who have functional hearing remaining in the affected ear, a endolymphatic sac decompression is another surgical option.
For More Information
For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call 847.504.3300.