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Meniere's Disease

Read this page to find out what Meniere's Disease is.

What is Meniere's disease?
Meniere's disease (men-YEERS) is a disease of the inner ear.
Meniere's disease causes 4 kinds of problems:

• Hearing loss
• Dizziness that feels like the room is spinning. This is called vertigo.
• Ringing in the ear. This is called tinnitus.
• Feeling like there's pressure in your ears. This is called aural fullness.

Often, 2 or more of these problems happen at the same time. This is called a Meniere's attack.

If your child has a Meniere's attack, she might hear ringing in her ear.
Then she might become dizzy.

Meniere's attacks can last for just a few minutes. Or they can last for a few hours. Afterwards, your child may feel unsteady or sick for a few days.

Meniere's disease usually affects only 1 ear
Meniere's disease usually only affects 1 ear. So people with Meniere's disease often lose their hearing in one ear. They may also have ringing and pressure in that ear. But Meniere's disease can affect both ears in some people.

Children don't usually get Meniere's disease
Children do not usually get Meniere's disease, but they can.
Meniere's disease usually starts around age 30 or 40.

What causes Meniere's disease?
Doctors don't know what causes Meniere's disease. Sometimes doctors describe Meniere's disease as idiopathic or sporadic. These words mean that doctors don't know what causes it, and they can't tell when or why it happens.

Sometimes Meniere's disease runs in families. So if your child has Meniere's disease, you might have a relative who has the same problem.

Next: Signs of Meniere's disease

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