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Symptoms of Meniere's Disease

Ask the Expert Team

Ask the Expert Team

Sutter Health

Question:

I have been diagnosed with Meniere's Disease. I have always had ringing in my left ear. Recently I have noted a thumping sound in my left ear. Is this another symptom of Meniere's Disease?

Answer:

Meniere's disease or syndrome is named after a French physician who first described the disorder in 1861. It is not a disease in that it cannot spread to another person. It is a syndrome of three symptoms characterized by: sudden onset of vertigo (spinning), tinnitus (a sound in the ear or ears that no one else can hear) and hearing loss. Another characteristic is that the attacks recur over time and one may experience one or all of the three symptoms. It is thought to be caused by an over-production or under-drainage of fluid in the inner ear that causes an attack of the three symptoms above when the pressure exceeds a certain level.

Note that there are several other causes of attacks of vertigo that may be inappropriately labeled Meniere's, such as viral labyrinthitis, hypoglycemia, irregular heart beat and sometimes benign positional vertigo, to name a few.

If the Meniere's affected ear is your left, the ringing tinnitus you describe is likely secondary to the damage in that ear. The tinnitus usually remains stable between attacks of Meniere's but may change with subsequent episodes. I do not know what the thumping sound is you perceive. I would recommend a hearing test by a licensed audiologist and evaluation by an ear, nose and throat specialist for this new symptom you are experiencing.

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