Unfortunately, restoring blood flow does not cure the problem, and any treatment to do so can trigger other problems. More research needs to be done before any form of reliable treatment or cure is developed, although a clear pathway to an eventual solution may emerge from these findings. Because no single cause has been identified, it's likely that Meniere's disease results from a combination of factors.
The unpredictable episodes of vertigo and the prospect of permanent hearing loss can be the most difficult problems of Meniere's disease. The disease can interrupt life and cause fatigue, emotional stress, depression and anxiety.
Testing for Meniere's Disease
During an examination for Meniere’s disease, doctors likely will perform a hearing test (audiometry), which will ask you to react to tones set at different pitch levels, ranging from low to high, and may ask you to distinguish similar-sounding words verbally. Meniere’s patients often struggle with low frequencies or combined high and low frequencies that occur in normal conversation.
To check balance, doctors may perform several tests. The first is a videonystagmography, which evaluates balance using eye movements. Warm and cool water are inserted into the ear canal, and then a special pair of video goggles measures involuntary eye movements.
A rotary chair test measures balance via a computer-controlled chair. The motion will stimulate the inner ear, checking reactions to the motion.
A vestibular evoked myogenic potentials test (sometimes called a VEMP test) checks to see changes in the inner ear using imaging. Similarly, posturography will test which units of the balancing system – the inner ear, vision, muscles, tendons and joints – are most affected by motion. This requires standing on a platform in bare feet and maintaining balance while the platform moves. Patients wear a safety harness to prevent falls.