menieres disease?

Question

could a hearing aid improve the symtoms of this disease. My aunt who is 92 had a head injury and shortly after developed dizziness, nausea, ringing in the ears, hearing loss,falling sensation + short term memory loss. All shes been given is stemetil ( anti sickness drugs) which she takes one every day. Her attacks are more frequent & shes becoming trapped in her home. There must be something else she can take, something to stop the vertigo, iam so worried for her & feel helpless that i cant do more. Can anyone suggest anything!!!!!!

Answer 1

I feel her pain. They thought I had Meniere's Disease before I was diagnosed with Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome. Turned out I was having microclots to my inner ears.

I still have problems with vertigo though. Some of it is from vertbrobasilar Transient Ischemic Attacks and some of it is from colds.

First, I am going to state that I am NOT a doctor. But, this is what I use...Meclizine 25mg (OTC is is called Dramamine II) and if I have a cold a decongestant. Your doctor may also prescribe Valium as it deadens the nerve to the inner ear. Since she is older, Xanax may be better. We don't want her to fall.

If it doesn't get better, please have someone drive her to a doctor to be examined - perferrably an Ears, Nose and Throat Doctor.

Answer 2

Hi. I'm an Audiologist and have worked in Acute Care Hospitals and Otolaryngology offices for over 14 years. I am sorry for what your Aunt is going through. It is a miserable feeling being dizzy and nauseous when there is nothing you can do to control it. Unfortunately for her, her advanced age, regardless of her general physical health, may limit some treatment options available.

Stemetil is known as Compazine in the US and it's for nausea and vomiting. Have they tried Meclazine/Antivert? (may be called Bonamine outside the US) - it is for the vertigo as well as the nausea and vomiting. Whether or not she has responded well to that medication is a useful diagnostic cue.

Since her symptoms began immediately after a head injury, there is a good chance that it is NOT Meniere's Disease. Short term memory loss is NOT a symptom of Meniere's, and Meniere's typically effects one ear only, but you use a plural so I'm guessing both her ears are effected. If it is Meniere's, one option that is used when the symptoms are severe and handicapping the person is a procedure called a labyrinthectomy. The purpose is basically to stop the Auditory Nerve from carrying the faulty information from the ear up to the brain. In the past, they would go in and cut the 8th cranial nerve; nowadays, they inject it with a substance that causes it to cease functioning. The most common side effect is that the hearing on that side is also lost.

Did they do ANY imaging of her head and/or inner ear structures -- MRI, CT scan, X-ray, anything? Her auditory/vestibular symptoms (not the memory loss) could also be caused by a rupture of the inner ear structure that causes some of the inner ear fluid to leak which trigger the symptoms. This is called a perilymphatic fistula. There might also be a tiny hairline fracture in and around the ear structures and temporal lobe area that could cause these effects.

Also, brain injury could cause all the symptoms including the memory loss -- depending on which area of the brain was effected. For example, if the injury was to her forehead (memory loss) then she had a whiplash or rebound injury in the area of the brainstem or cerebellum (OR vice-versa) it could explain ALL her symptoms. At her age, it is also possible that the brain was injured in one area, and that the stress of the injury precipitated a stroke or mini-stroke/TIA in another.

As you can see -- there are SO MANY possibilities that she really needs to be seen by another specialist. I would recommend a neurotologist/neuro-otologist who is an Ear, Nose and Throat doctor (otolaryngologist) with specialization is the ear and neurological aspects of the ears. In addition to imaging studies, there may also be some balance tests ordered to further differentiate the diagnosis.

I wish your Aunt well, and hope that you will find an accurate diagnosis and effective treatment. Good luck!

Answer 3

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Answer 4

My mum suffered this disease since age 6. The old remedies that were used back when she grew up for ear infections was to pour warm bi-carb soda mix down the ears. This perforated her ear drums and made her life hell as she developed menieres. Many operations later and the use of hearing aids and what not never did improve quality of life for her. She was, at times, a sober drunk..literally!!!
As a nurse, I have seen things improve for patients that have taken moduretic, a medication which gets rid of the fluid in the middle ear..but it has complications too. At age 92 the patient's renal system may not be able to cope with some of the diuretic medications she may need to rid this problem. It becomes toxic if renal function is compromised.
Poor love, my thoughts are with her as I have grown up with this affecting a loved one. You are great for caring..just be there and offer help around the place when you can :)

Answer 5

unfortunately, meniere's disease cannot be cured at this time as the pathophysiology is not clearly understood. But it can be treated and there are ways to help prevent acute episodes.

The hearing aid will help with the hearing loss that does accompany Meniere's, but it will not help with the vertigo as they are controlled by two different systems (hearing by the organ of Corti, and vertigo/balance by the labarynthine apparatus).

For some information on what you can do at home to prevent attacks as well as other information, check out the link below.

Answer 6

What is Meniere's disease?

Meniere's (say "men-ears") disease is the name of a problem of inner ear. No one knows the cause. Meniere's disease has something to do with fluid in canals of the inner ear. Although it can be troublesome, Meniere's is not contagious and it isn't fatal. However, it's a "chronic" problem, which means that it lasts a long time. People with Meniere's disease don't have symptoms all the time. When symptoms occur, it's called an "attack." Attacks may happen often, or only sometimes. Attacks usually last from 20 minutes to 2 hours or longer. Meniere's disease usually occurs in only one ear. It affects both ears in only about 30% of patients.

What are the symptoms during an attack?

The symptoms of Meniere's disease include dizziness, a feeling of fullness in the ear and tinnitus (a roaring sound in the ear). The dizziness is described as a spinning or whirling feeling and may cause problems with balance (feeling unstable while walking). Some people feel nauseated and vomit during an attack (because of the spinning feeling). Some people also notice some hearing loss, especially with sounds that have a low tone.

How does my doctor know if I have Meniere's disease?

Your doctor will ask questions about your symptoms and ask you to describe what happens when you have an attack. Your doctor will want to rule out other ear problems, so he or she may give you some tests. Some tests your doctor might suggest include hearing and blood tests, an MRI or CT scan (tests that "take pictures" of the inside of your ears and head) or special tests for your ears to check your balance and the function of your ears.

What is the treatment for Meniere's disease?

Your doctor may recommend that you try to control the attacks by changing your diet. Since the disease is a result of a problem with fluid in canals of the inner ear, you may have to limit your salt intake. Controlling the level of salt in your body will indirectly control the amount of fluid in the inner ear canals. A medicine called a diuretic (water pill) may also help. You should limit the amount of caffeine and alcohol in your diet, and quit smoking if you smoke. Your doctor can prescribe medicines to help with feelings of dizziness and nausea. These medicines may cause you to feel sleepy. In difficult cases of Meniere's disease (when attacks can't be controlled by diet or medicines), surgery may be necessary.

What should I do during an attack?

During an attack, you should try to lie flat on a surface that doesn't move, such as the floor. To cope with the dizziness, keep your eyes aimed at an object that doesn't move. Don't eat or drink much, so you will be less likely to vomit. When the symptoms go away, get up slowly. You may feel very sleepy and want to sleep for several hours after an attack. If you keep vomiting for more than 24 hours and can't keep down any liquids, call your doctor for medicine to help control the vomiting.

How do I cope with Meniere's disease?

Meniere's disease is often frustrating for people who have it. You may have to change the way you live to control the attacks. You must follow your doctor's advice about diet and alcohol, caffeine and smoking. You may also have to limit the stress in your life or learn how to deal with stress better, since stress may cause an attack. Let your family, friends and co-workers know about the disease. Tell them how they can help you if you have an attack.

Answer 7

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Answer 9

I am an alternative medicinal therapist and an ex nurse and the best thing for this is EAR CANDLING. I know because I do this treatment.

Gloria(BSYA)
[e-mail]

Answer 10

I doubt a hearing aid would matter. I know of no treatment for the syndrome at this time.