How to Diagnose Meniere's Disease

Meniere's Disease is a complicated condition; doctors still can't tell us what causes it. The symptoms of the condition, which include vertigo attacks, ringing in the ears and pressure on the ears, also are found in other conditions. An exact diagnosis of Meniere's Disease can require many visits to several different specialists.

Instructions

1. Fill out a detailed medical history with your primary physician. The doctor will ask questions about your blood pressure, cholesterol levels and whether you have diabetes. These conditions can mimic the symptoms of Meniere's Disease under certain circumstances.

2. Tell your doctor if you've ever had an allergic reaction, a serious infection or eye damage. Since the eyes, ears and throat are closely connected, other illnesses can have symptoms similar to Meniere's Disease.

3. Get a full ear examination. The doctor will look into your ears, as well as perform a hearing test. If you experience a feeling of pressure in either of your ears, be sure to tell your doctor. Also note if you have any ringing or tinnitus in your ears. Make sure the doctor notes the exact frequencies at which you're having trouble hearing, because it is essential to have a precise portrait of temporary hearing loss to diagnose Meniere's Disease.

4. Have Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) done. A MRI creates a clear picture of your skull. This is done so that the doctors can check for any brain disorders, tumors or brain tissue damage. These kinds of brain problems can create the vertigo attacks which many Meniere's patients experience.

5. Get a rotary chair test. The test is simple. You will be asked to sit in a special chair that will rotate in a circle. An eyepiece will measure how your eyes react to the motion. The machine measures how dizzy you get. People with inner ear problems, like those typically of Meniere's patients, will get less dizzy than regular people.

Tips & Warnings

• Meniere's Disease is rare, so it's likely that the doctors will discover another cause of your symptoms, like the treatable condition of high blood pressure.

• You will probably have to go to a large hospital to get a rotary chair test. This piece of equipment is so expensive, many doctors have to share it.