Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
Does Meniere's Disease Cause Sensitivity To Noise?
Question: My boyfriend was recently diagnosed with Menieres Disease. He has fullness in the ear, ocassional hearing loss, and slight vertigo. He is taking diuretics and trying to cut salt from his diet. However, the doctor told him he cant be around noise - he loves concerts, parties, and music and the noise doesnt seem to affect to affect him negatively. Is this true that he cant be around noise? We feel it might not be a correct diagnosis and it would strongly affect his life. I have read everywhere online and it doesnt say anything about noise. Thank you!
Brief Answer:
There is no evidence to support avoiding noise exposure in Meniere's.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for your query.
1. He is younger than the average Meniere's patient. Hence autoimmune inner ear disease should be ruled out. Meniere's disease is diagnosed on the following criteria:
a. Vertigo
b. Fluctuating hearing loss
c. Tinnitus
d. Fullness in the ear
There is usually nausea and vomiting, the hearing usually worsens during an attack and the tinnitus also worsens.
2. You should get a PTA (Pure Tone Audiogram) to document any hearing loss. Meniere's disease usually causes low frequency hearing loss initially ( Audiogram sloping to left).
3. Meniere's disease should normally respond to a salt restricted diet, acetazolamide (Diamox) and high dose betahistine (Vertin). A Meniette device or the Entex P-100 can be tried.
4. An ECochG (Electrocohlearography) and a VEMP (Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potential) Test can be done to check the diagnosis.
5. There is no evidence to support avoiding noise exposure in Meniere's Disease.
I hope that I have answered your queries. If you have any further questions, I will be available to answer them.
Regards.
There is no evidence to support avoiding noise exposure in Meniere's.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for your query.
1. He is younger than the average Meniere's patient. Hence autoimmune inner ear disease should be ruled out. Meniere's disease is diagnosed on the following criteria:
a. Vertigo
b. Fluctuating hearing loss
c. Tinnitus
d. Fullness in the ear
There is usually nausea and vomiting, the hearing usually worsens during an attack and the tinnitus also worsens.
2. You should get a PTA (Pure Tone Audiogram) to document any hearing loss. Meniere's disease usually causes low frequency hearing loss initially ( Audiogram sloping to left).
3. Meniere's disease should normally respond to a salt restricted diet, acetazolamide (Diamox) and high dose betahistine (Vertin). A Meniette device or the Entex P-100 can be tried.
4. An ECochG (Electrocohlearography) and a VEMP (Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potential) Test can be done to check the diagnosis.
5. There is no evidence to support avoiding noise exposure in Meniere's Disease.
I hope that I have answered your queries. If you have any further questions, I will be available to answer them.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
Hi! Ok i am attaching his medical exams (although they are in spanish - oido derecho means right ear and oido izquierdo means left ear). He also got a brain scan and everything is normal there. According to these, would you say its definitely Menieres? Also if the pressure is shown to be off in both ears, is that normal in that condition and symptoms just display themlseves in one ear? So would you recommend for him to not be near noise even if it does not bother him, or is that not really a necessary precaution? Thank you so much!!!! Look forward to your response :
Brief Answer:
Endolymphatic hydrops can have other causes besides Meniere's Disease.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for your query.
1. The EcochG result does show evidence of Endolymphatic Hydrops, worse on the right.
2. Meniere's Disease is usually one sided, but can affect both ears after a few years.
3. There is no reason to avoid noise in this condition.
4. It is good to hear that the scan is normal. This rules out any tumor or mass.
5. The Pure Tone Audiogram shows a low frequency hearing loss in the right ear (slope to left). This is in favor of Endolymphatic hydrops / Meniere's Disease.
6. You can start the treatment for Meniere's Disease and let me know the response.
I hope that I have answered your queries. If you have any further questions, I will be available to answer them.
Regards.
Endolymphatic hydrops can have other causes besides Meniere's Disease.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for your query.
1. The EcochG result does show evidence of Endolymphatic Hydrops, worse on the right.
2. Meniere's Disease is usually one sided, but can affect both ears after a few years.
3. There is no reason to avoid noise in this condition.
4. It is good to hear that the scan is normal. This rules out any tumor or mass.
5. The Pure Tone Audiogram shows a low frequency hearing loss in the right ear (slope to left). This is in favor of Endolymphatic hydrops / Meniere's Disease.
6. You can start the treatment for Meniere's Disease and let me know the response.
I hope that I have answered your queries. If you have any further questions, I will be available to answer them.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Hello!! Thanks so much for your response. So a few more questions.
1. So based on this do you think it is Menieres or it may have another cause? What other causes could be?
2. So he can listen to noise thats actually great news!!! And he can go to concerts and play the drums normally? Or should he wear earplugs just in case? Also so he can listen to music say, on his iphone? If so should he wear headphones or earphones? Or does it not matter?
3. Does exercise improve this condition by eliminating salt through sweat?
4. What about airplanes and scuba diving? Are those OK if he feels fine when doing them? F
Thank you so much!!! You have been so helpful!
1. So based on this do you think it is Menieres or it may have another cause? What other causes could be?
2. So he can listen to noise thats actually great news!!! And he can go to concerts and play the drums normally? Or should he wear earplugs just in case? Also so he can listen to music say, on his iphone? If so should he wear headphones or earphones? Or does it not matter?
3. Does exercise improve this condition by eliminating salt through sweat?
4. What about airplanes and scuba diving? Are those OK if he feels fine when doing them? F
Thank you so much!!! You have been so helpful!
Brief Answer:
Details as discussed below:
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for writing back.
1. The diagnosis is Endolymphatic Hydrops. One of the causes is Meniere's Disease.
2. There is no problem with noise exposure within prescribed limits. He can wear ear protection in very loud environments (as any normal person).
3. Salt reduction in the body by any means helps reduce symptoms. However salt elimination through sweat is very little as compared to salt intake restriction.
4. Treatments with the Meniette Device and the Enttex P100 rely on pulse pressure changes. That is why he feels fine while flying or during scuba diving.
I hope that I have answered your queries. If you have any further questions, I will be available to answer them.
Regards.
Details as discussed below:
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for writing back.
1. The diagnosis is Endolymphatic Hydrops. One of the causes is Meniere's Disease.
2. There is no problem with noise exposure within prescribed limits. He can wear ear protection in very loud environments (as any normal person).
3. Salt reduction in the body by any means helps reduce symptoms. However salt elimination through sweat is very little as compared to salt intake restriction.
4. Treatments with the Meniette Device and the Enttex P100 rely on pulse pressure changes. That is why he feels fine while flying or during scuba diving.
I hope that I have answered your queries. If you have any further questions, I will be available to answer them.
Regards.
Note: Consult an experienced Otolaryngologist / ENT Specialist online for further follow up on ear, nose, and throat issues - Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
