Meniers disease - how can I treat or recover hearing loss ?

Meniere’s disease is a disorder of the inner ear that can affect hearing and balance. It is characterized by episodes of dizziness and tinnitus and progressive hearing loss, usually in one ear. The condition is caused by an increase in volume and pressure of the endolymph of the inner ear.

The exact cause of Meniere’s disease is still unknown. The symptoms may occur during a middle ear infection, head trauma or an upper respiratory tract infection, or by using aspirin, smoking cigarettes or drinking alcohol. They may be further exacerbated by excessive consumption of caffeine and salt in some patients.

Therapy for Meniere's disease includes dealing with the immediate symptoms and preventing recurrence of symptoms, and so will vary from patient to patient. Doctors may recommend vestibular training, methods for dealing with tinnitus, stress reduction, hearing aids to deal with hearing loss, and/or medication to alleviate nausea and symptoms of vertigo. Several environmental and dietary changes are thought to reduce the frequency or severity of symptom outbreaks. Most people experiencing Meniere's are advised to adopt a low-sodium diet. People are also advised to avoid caffeine, alcohol and tobacco: all can aggravate symptoms of Meniere’s. Medications used for treating Meniere’s disease include antihistamines, anticholinergics, steroids and diuretics. A medical device that provides transtympanic micropressure pulses is now showing some promise and is becoming more widely used as a treatment for Meniere’s disease. Surgery may be recommended if medical treatment does not control vertigo.

Finally, the progression of Meniere’s is unpredictable: symptoms may worsen, disappear altogether, or remain the same over time.





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