Ménière's Disease

What is Ménière's Disease?

Ménière's Disease / Ménière's Syndrome is a disorder of the inner ear and is a common cause of hearing loss.

What are the characteristics of Ménière's Disease?

Ménière's Disease is characterised by a combination of vertigo, tinnitus, hearing loss and the sensation of pressure or pain in the affected ear (known as aural fullness).

Vertigo is often the most debilitating characteristic of Ménière's disease. It typically involves a whirling dizziness that forces the individual to lie down. Vertigo attacks can lead to severe nausea, vomiting, and sweating and often come with little or no warning. The attacks can last from 10 minutes to several hours.

Tinnitus is the sensation of noises in one or both ears. The sound can be described as a whistling, hissing, roaring or buzzing sound. Because of the very irritating nature of tinnitus, there can be strong associated psychological effects manifesting as stress, anxiety or other emotional responses. The tinnitus can increase in severity as Ménière's Disease progresses, particularly as the level of hearing loss increases.

Hearing Loss associated with Ménière's Disease typically means loss of volume and clarity. In the later stages of Ménière's Disease, the hearing loss tends to increase.

Aural Fullness is a feeling of increased fullness or pressure in the affected ear and may herald an attack of vertigo (some describe the feeling as similar to having cotton wool stuffed in their ears).

It is important to remember that all of these symptoms are unpredictable.

Is there a treatment to arrest the progression of Ménière's Disease?

There is no cure for Ménière's disease at present. However, the symptoms are often controlled by medication or diet (e.g. low-salt diet and exclusion of caffeine and alcohol from the diet).

Different surgical procedures have been advocated particularly for the control of the vertigo induced by Ménière's disease, but many have proven to carry surgical risks.

Are there any useful teaching and learning strategies for people with this hearing impairment?

For information on teaching and learning strategies, click here


Where can I find out more information?

Irish Deaf.com is an on line directory that helps people find relevant information about the many clubs and organisations that cater for the Deaf
http://www.irishdeaf.com∞


Irish Deaf Society
30 Blessington Street
Dublin 7
Ireland
Minicom:(01) 8601910
Tel: (01) 8601878
Fax:(01) 8601960
Email: info@irishdeafsociety.ie
Web: http://www.irishdeafsociety.ie/home/home.htm∞


Irish Hard of Hearing Association
35, North Frederick Street
Dublin 1
Phone/Minicom: 01-8723800
Fax: 01-8723816
E-mail: info@ihha.ie
Web: http://www.ihha.ie/∞


National Association for Deaf People
Head Office
35 North Frederick Street
Dublin 1
Tel: (01) 872 3800
Minicom: (01) 817 5777
Fax: (01) 872 3816
Email: nad@iol.ie
Text messages: (01) 878 3629
Videophone: (01) 817 1400
Web: http://www.nadi.ie/nadp/asp/section.asp?s=1∞

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