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SYMPTOMS OF MENIERE\'S DISEASE
Symptoms of Meniere\'s are diagnostic of the condition when they occur in combination. They include:
Vertigo
- There is a sensation of spinning (the \'whole room spins\') which may last for as little as 10 minutes but may often last for hours.
- The spinning is particularly noticeable if the head is moved
- even slight head movements are unpleasant.
- In severe vertigo feelings of nausea (wanting to vomit) occur and usually vomiting follows.
- Loss of bowel control may also occur.
- Giddiness occasionally occurs unexpectedly and is not provoked by any particular head movement.
- Often there is a warning that the dizziness is about to occur. This may be unsteadiness on rapid movement, a change in tinnitus, a full feeling within the ear, or distortion of hearing.
Tinnitus
- May increase prior to vertigo attacks and often has a roaring quality. The character of the tinnitus may change during the attack.
- Can remain even when free from attacks of vertigo. May be continuous, unremitting, and can be distressing.
Hearing loss or muffled hearing (associated with measurable hearing changes)
- There may be tone deafness. The lower frequencies are affected. This differs from high frequency loss associated with both noise induced hearing loss and presbycusis (the aging process).
- Recruitment (hypersensitivity to loud sound), which is occasionally painful in very loud noise.
- Diplacusis may occur - the pitch of sound in the affected ear can \'move\' by 1/3 to 1/2 a note. This phenomena is produced by endolymphatic hydrops as the excess fluid changes the way sound waves enter the inner ear.
Feeling of fullness in the ear
- A feeling of fullness or \'pressure\' in the affected ear.
- The feeling of fullness may increase prior to and during the attacks of vertigo.
Not all the symptoms are present in every attack. Sometimes the vertigo occurs without warning. Sometimes it occurs after a period of muffled hearing and ear pressure.
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GENERAL HEALTH
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