A Brief History: Who Was Prosper Ménière?

Ménière’s Disease is named after Dr Prosper Ménière, a French physician and researcher who, in 1861, was among the first to connect vertigo and hearing loss to the inner ear.

Before Ménière’s observations, many believed these symptoms were linked to the brain. Prosper Ménière challenged this by suggesting that the inner ear, not the brain, was the source of these problems. His theory laid the foundation for modern audiovestibular medicine, and the condition now bears his name.

Dr Prosper Ménière

Ménière’s Disease is a chronic disorder of the inner ear, where abnormal fluid buildup disrupts your sense of balance and hearing. The symptoms come in episodes or attacks, which can vary in frequency and severity.

It most commonly affects adults between 40 and 60 years old, and while it usually starts in one ear, it can become bilateral in some cases over time.

What Is Ménière’s Disease?

  1. Vertigo
    Sudden, intense non-positional spinning sensations lasting 20 minutes to several hours

    • Often accompanied by nausea or vomiting

    • Can lead to imbalance or even falls

  2. Fluctuating Hearing Loss
    Usually begins in the low frequencies

    • May come and go

    • Can become permanent if not managed over time

  3. Tinnitus
    Ringing, buzzing, or roaring in the affected ear

  4. Aural Fullness
    A sensation of pressure, congestion, or fullness in the ear

Classic Symptoms of Ménière’s Disease

What Causes It?

Ménière’s Disease is thought to be caused by excess fluid (called endolymph) in the labyrinth of the inner ear. This fluid buildup disrupts the delicate balance of signals that travel from the ear to the brain.

While the exact cause is unknown, possible contributors include:

  • Autoimmune disorders

  • Viral infections of the inner ear

  • Allergies

  • Head trauma

  • Genetics

  • Poor drainage or anatomical differences in the inner ear

Please note that Ménière’s Disease is a medical condition that should be diagnosed by an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) doctor.

At Earsonic, our audiologists will perform the necessary examinations to assist the ENT in making a diagnosis. We will also inform you if there is a possibility that you may have Ménière’s Disease, but please be aware that we cannot confirm the presence of this condition.

Ménière’s is diagnosed clinically, meaning based on symptoms and testing over time, it is sometimes called a “diagnosis of exclusion” — we rule out other causes before confirming it.

How Is It Diagnosed?

Managing Ménière’s Disease

There’s no cure yet, but symptoms can be effectively managed. Treatment plans are tailored to each person’s lifestyle, severity of symptoms, and hearing profile.

1. Diet and Lifestyle

  • Low-sodium diet: Reduces inner ear fluid pressure

  • Avoiding caffeine, alcohol, and tobacco

  • Stress reduction: Stress can trigger attacks

2. Medications

  • Diuretics (water pills) to reduce fluid buildup

  • Anti-vertigo medications (e.g., meclizine) during attacks

  • Anti-nausea meds if vertigo leads to vomiting

3. Hearing Aids

  • For those with hearing loss or tinnitus

  • Advanced devices can provide relief from sound distortion and improve clarity

4. Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy (VRT)

  • Tailored exercises that help the brain adapt to balance changes

5. Injection Therapy (less common)

  • Steroids or gentamicin injected into the ear in more severe cases

6. Surgery (rare)

  • Endolymphatic sac surgery or vestibular nerve section for patients with disabling vertigo that doesn’t respond to other treatments.

Living with Ménière’s can be unpredictable. Some patients have frequent attacks; others may go months or years between episodes. It can affect confidence, social life, work, and mental health.

But with professional guidance, regular monitoring, and a personalized care plan, many patients regain control of their lives.

Living with Ménière’s Disease