Symptoms

Symptoms of Ménière's Disease

Ménière's Disease is characterized by symptoms of dizziness, hearing loss, tinnitus and fullness in the ear that come and go over the course of adulthood. Episodes of Ménière's symptoms may occur frequently or be years apart at first.

Symptoms usually occur in one ear but may be in both. They include:

• Vertigo: In severe cases, this feeling of dizziness, lightheadedness or loss of balance can be accompanied by vomiting and sweating. Episodes of dizziness may last from several minutes to several hours.
• Hearing loss: Difficulty hearing may be temporary early in the disease before eventually becoming permanent. Low frequencies may be particularly hard to hear.
• Tinnitus: This is a sensation of ringing, hissing or roaring in the ear that can be merely irritating or interfere with hearing.
• Fullness in the ear: Ear fullness or a feeling that your ear is plugged is a common symptom of Ménière's Disease.
• Headache: Headaches and pressure on the side of the head affects many people with Ménière's Disease.