Ménière's disease is a chronic inner-ear condition that causes attacks of vertigo (spinning), fluctuating hearing loss, tinnitus (usually in one ear), and a sense of pressure or fullness in the affected ear. Attacks can last from 20 minutes to several hours and often come with nausea and vomiting. Between attacks people may feel completely well.
The cause isn't fully understood, but it's linked to a build-up of fluid in the inner ear. We diagnose it through a combination of a detailed history, a full hearing test (looking for a characteristic pattern of low-frequency hearing loss), and vestibular testing to rule out other causes. Treatment is aimed at reducing attack frequency and severity — dietary changes (low salt), medication where needed, and vestibular rehabilitation for balance recovery between attacks. Where hearing is affected, hearing aids form part of the plan.