Ph.D. Introduction Meniere's disease is characterized by fluctuations in hearing, episodes of dizziness, tinnitus and a feeling of pressure in the ear.
Some patients sense that there is a slight ache in or behind the ear.
Patients with severe Meniere's disease may have repeated spells of vertigo that may come frequently and without warning. Balance disorders can also make a patient lack concentration, have trouble focusing and have difficulty navigating through a supermarket or a shopping mall. The unpredictability of the vertigo spells can be dangerous, particularly when driving or working at any heights where precise balance is required. In severe cases, the incapacitating nature of this disorder and its unpredictability can create stress and some neurotic behavior that develops as a coping mechanism. Over time, the severe cases gradually burn out, however, the price for this is usually good hearing.