What is Ménière’s disease? 

Ménière’s disease is a disorder of the inner ear that 

causes severe dizziness (vertigo), ringing in the ears 

(tinnitus), hearing loss, and a feeling of fullness or 

congestion in the ear. Ménière’s disease usually affects 

only one ear. 

Attacks of dizziness may come on suddenly or after 

a short period of tinnitus or muffled hearing. Some 

people will have single attacks of dizziness separated 

by long periods of time. Others may experience many 

attacks closer together over a number of days. Some 

people with Ménière’s disease have vertigo so extreme 

that they lose their balance and fall. These episodes 

are called “drop attacks.” 

Ménière’s disease can develop at any age, but it is 

more likely to happen to adults between 40 and 60 

years of age. The National Institute on Deafness and 

Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) estimates 

that approximately 615,000 individuals in the United 

States are currently diagnosed with Ménière’s disease 

and that 45,500 cases are newly diagnosed each year. 

What causes the symptoms of 

Ménière’s disease?

The symptoms of Ménière’s disease are caused by 

the buildup of fluid in the compartments of the inner 

ear, called the labyrinth (see figure 1). The labyrinth 

contains the organs of balance (the semicircular canals 

and otolithic organs) and of hearing (the cochlea). 

It has two sections: the bony labyrinth and the 

membranous labyrinth. The membranous labyrinth is 

filled with a fluid called endolymph that, in the balance 

organs, stimulates receptors as the body moves. The 

receptors then send signals to the brain about the 

body’s position and movement. In the cochlea, fluid 

is compressed in response to sound vibrations, which 

stimulates sensory cells that send signals to the brain. 

NIDCD Fact Sheet

Ménière’s Disease

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES ∙ NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH ∙ NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DEAFNESS AND OTHER COMMUNICATION DISORDERS hearing balance Credit: NIH Medical Arts

Figure 1: The labyrinth in relation to the ear

The labyrinth is composed of the semicircular canals, 

the otolithic organs (i.e., utricle and saccule), and 

the cochlea. Inside their walls (bony labyrinth) are 

thin, pliable tubes and sacs (membranous labyrinth) 

filled with endolymph.
In Ménière’s disease, the endolymph buildup in the 

labyrinth interferes with the normal balance and 

hearing signals between the inner ear and the brain. 

This abnormality causes vertigo and other symptoms 

of Ménière’s disease. 

Why do people get Ménière’s disease?

Many theories exist about what happens to cause 

Ménière’s disease, but no definite answers are 

available. Some researchers think that Ménière’s 

disease is the result of constrictions in blood vessels 

similar to those that cause migraine headaches. Others 

think Ménière’s disease could be a consequence of 

viral infections, allergies, or autoimmune reactions. 

Because Ménière’s disease appears to run in families, 

it could also be the result of genetic variations that 

cause abnormalities in the volume or regulation of 

endolymph fluid. 

How does a doctor diagnose 

Ménière’s disease?

Ménière’s disease is most often diagnosed and treated 

by an otolaryngologist (commonly called an ear, nose, 

and throat doctor, or ENT). However, there is no 

definitive test or single symptom that a doctor can use 

to make the diagnosis. Diagnosis is based upon your 

medical history and the presence of: 

• Two or more episodes of vertigo lasting at least 

20 minutes each

• Tinnitus 

• Temporary hearing loss

• A feeling of fullness in the ear 

Some doctors will perform a hearing test to establish 

the extent of hearing loss caused by Ménière’s disease. 

To rule out other diseases, a doctor also might request 

magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed 

tomography (CT) scans of the brain. 

How is Ménière’s disease treated?

Ménière’s disease does not have a cure yet, but your 

doctor might recommend some of the treatments 

below to help you cope with the condition. 

• Medications. The most disabling symptom of an 

attack of Ménière’s disease is dizziness. Prescription 

drugs such as meclizine, diazepam, glycopyrrolate, 

and lorazepam can help relieve dizziness and 

shorten the attack. 

• Salt restriction and diuretics. Limiting dietary 

salt and taking diuretics (water pills) help some 

people control dizziness by reducing the amount of 

fluid the body retains, which may help lower fluid 

volume and pressure in the inner ear.

• Other dietary and behavioral changes. Some 

people claim that caffeine, chocolate, and alcohol 

make their symptoms worse and either avoid or 

limit them in their diet. Not smoking also may help 

lessen the symptoms.

• Cognitive therapy. Cognitive therapy is a type of 

talk therapy that helps people focus on how they 

interpret and react to life experiences. Some people 

find that cognitive therapy helps them cope better 

with the unexpected nature of attacks and reduces 

their anxiety about future attacks. 

NIDCD Fact Sheet

Ménière’s Disease

hearingbalance
• Injections. Injecting the antibiotic gentamicin into 

the middle ear helps control vertigo but significantly 

raises the risk of hearing loss because gentamicin 

can damage the microscopic hair cells in the 

inner ear that help us hear. Some doctors inject a 

corticosteroid instead, which often helps reduce 

dizziness and has no risk of hearing loss.

• Pressure pulse treatment. The U.S. Food and 

Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved a 

device for Ménière’s disease that fits into the outer 

ear and delivers intermittent air pressure pulses to 

the middle ear. The air pressure pulses appear to act 

on endolymph fluid to prevent dizziness. 

• Surgery. Surgery may be recommended when all 

other treatments have failed to relieve dizziness. 

Some surgical procedures are performed on the 

endolymphatic sac (see figure 2) to decompress it. 

Another possible surgery is to cut the vestibular 

nerve, although this occurs less frequently.

• Alternative medicine. Although scientists have 

studied the use of some alternative medical 

therapies in Ménière’s disease treatment, there is 

still no evidence to show the effectiveness of such 

therapies as acupuncture or acupressure, tai chi, or 

herbal supplements such as gingko biloba, niacin, 

or ginger root. Be sure to tell your doctor if you are 

using alternative therapies, since they sometimes can 

impact the effectiveness or safety of conventional 

medicines. 

What is the outlook for someone with 

Ménière’s disease?

Scientists estimate that six out of 10 people either 

get better on their own or can control their vertigo 

with diet, drugs, or devices. However, a small group 

of people with Ménière’s disease will get relief only by 

undergoing surgery. 

What research about Ménière’s disease is 

being done?

Insights into the biological mechanisms in the inner 

ear that cause Ménière’s disease will guide scientists as 

they develop preventive strategies and more effective 

treatment. The NIDCD is supporting scientific research 

across the country that is: 

• Determining the most effective dose of gentamicin 

with the least amount of risk for hearing loss. 

• Developing an in-ear device that uses a 

programmable microfluid pump (the size of a 

computer chip) to precisely deliver vertigo-relieving 

drugs to the inner ear. 

more

Credit: NIH Medical Arts

Figure 2: Location of endolymphatic sac
NIDCD supports and conducts research and research training on the 

normal and disordered processes of hearing, balance, smell, taste, 

voice, speech, and language and provides health information, based 

upon scientific discovery, to the public.

hearing, balancesmell, tastevoice, speech, language

NIDCD Fact Sheet: Ménière’s Disease

NIH Publication No. 10-3404

Updated July 2010

For more information, contact:

NIDCD Information Clearinghouse

1 Communication Avenue

Bethesda, MD 20892-3456

Toll-free Voice: (800) 241–1044

Toll-free TTY: (800) 241–1055

Fax: (301) 770–8977

E-mail: nidcdinfo@nidcd.nih.gov

Internet: http://www.nidcd.nih.gov

The NIDCD Information Clearinghouse is a service of the 

National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication 

Disorders, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department 

of Health and Human Services.

• Studying the relationship between endolymph 

volume and inner ear function to determine how 

much endolymph is “too much.” Researchers 

are hoping to develop methods for manipulating 

inner ear fluids and treatments that could lower 

endolymph volume and reduce or eliminate 

dizziness.

Where can I find more information?

The NIDCD maintains a directory of organizations 

that provide information on the normal and 

disordered processes of hearing, balance, smell, taste, 

voice, speech, and language. Please see the list of 

organizations at http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/directory.

Use the following keywords to help you search for 

organizations that can answer questions and provide 

printed or electronic information on Ménière’s disease:

• Ménière’s disease 

• Vertigo 

• Tinnitus

For more information, additional addresses and phone 

numbers, or a printed list of organizations, contact:

NIDCD Information Clearinghouse

1 Communication Avenue

Bethesda, MD 20892-3456

Toll-free Voice: (800) 241-1044

Toll-free TTY: (800) 241-1055

Fax: (301) 770-8977

E-mail: nidcdinfo@nidcd.nih.gov