Meniere's Disease Explained
· All About Hearing Team
Meniere's disease is a rare inner ear condition that can cause episodes of vertigo, hearing loss, tinnitus and a feeling of fullness in the ear. A hearing test alone can't diagnose it, but if you're noticing these symptoms together, it's worth getting your hearing checked as part of finding out what's going on.
What is Meniere's disease?
It's thought to involve a build-up of fluid in the inner ear, which affects both hearing and balance. The exact cause isn't fully understood, though a family history of the condition or an imbalance in inner ear fluid are both thought to play a role. It typically starts in one ear, though it can affect both over time in some people.
Common symptoms
The main symptoms are vertigo (a spinning sensation, rather than simply feeling dizzy), fluctuating or gradually worsening hearing loss, tinnitus, and a feeling of pressure or fullness in the affected ear. Symptoms tend to come in episodes — a vertigo attack typically lasts 20 minutes to several hours, occasionally as long as a day, with some unsteadiness sometimes lingering afterwards.
When to seek urgent or emergency care
Call 112 or 999 immediately if vertigo or dizziness starts suddenly for the first time — or in a new or worsening pattern — alongside double vision or loss of vision, sudden hearing loss, slurred speech or difficulty speaking, weakness or numbness, or if someone can't be woken or roused: these can be signs of a more serious condition needing immediate assessment. If you already have a diagnosed pattern of Meniere's disease, a typical attack doesn't need an ambulance — follow the plan your GP or ENT specialist has given you, though it's worth mentioning any new or different symptoms at your next appointment. Contact your GP or a GP out-of-hours service if vertigo comes with a sudden, very severe (“worst-ever”) headache, vomiting, or fever. If vertigo keeps coming back or is affecting your daily life, it's worth contacting your GP even without those symptoms. This site facilitates hearing test and audiologist bookings; it doesn't replace urgent medical care.
How it's usually diagnosed
There's no single test for Meniere's disease. A GP will typically ask about your pattern of symptoms over time and may refer you to an ENT specialist, who can rule out other causes of vertigo and hearing change. A hearing test is often part of that picture, since it gives a clear, objective record of your hearing at a point in time — useful for tracking whether it's fluctuating in the way Meniere's disease typically does.
Where a hearing test fits in
We don't diagnose Meniere's disease ourselves — that's a job for a GP or ENT specialist. What we can help with is arranging a hearing test with a qualified, independent audiologist, which can help build the picture alongside whatever else your GP is looking into. If tinnitus is one of your symptoms, our tinnitus guide covers that in more depth.
Frequently asked questions
- Can a hearing test diagnose Meniere's disease?
- Not on its own. A hearing test can show whether hearing loss is present and help build a picture, but diagnosing Meniere's disease usually involves a GP and often an ENT specialist, looking at your full pattern of symptoms over time.
- Is vertigo always a sign of Meniere's disease?
- No — vertigo has several common causes, including inner ear conditions like BPPV and labyrinthitis, migraine, and certain medications. Meniere's disease is a relatively rare cause, but it's worth having any recurring vertigo checked.
- Does Meniere's disease affect one ear or both?
- It usually starts in one ear, though it can affect both over time in some people. The pattern varies from person to person, which is part of why a proper assessment matters rather than guessing.
- Can Meniere's disease be cured?
- There's no cure, but a GP or ENT specialist can advise on treatment and management approaches that help with symptoms for many people. The right next step depends on your own situation.
Noticing hearing changes alongside these symptoms? See our guide to signs of hearing loss or get in touch to arrange a hearing test.
Arrange a hearing test
Leave your details and we'll call you back, usually the same day, to arrange an appointment at home or in a clinic.