I have ringing sound in my right ear for the last two years. Is this due to Meniere's disease?

Question

Hi doctor,

I have had tinnitus for the last one or two years. But now, I have been noticing a ringing sound in my right ear. I have gone for a hearing and balance test at the beginning of this year, and it was clear. I took an MRI scan after a month, and the results were clear. So is this Meniere's disease? Is Meniere's disease life-threatening? What does it mean if I get tinnitus in just one ear? What else could it be?

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

As per your concern, tinnitus is not only the symptom of Meniere's disease. Meniere's disease has typical symptoms of vertigo, hearing loss, aural fullness, and tinnitus. As you do not have all these symptoms and all your reports are normal (attachments removed to protect the patient's identity), it is less likely to be Meniere's disease. It is not life-threatening, and it can be managed by medication in most cases. The cause of tinnitus are wax, otitis media, OME (otitis media with effusion), otosclerosis, presbycusis, labyrinthitis, Meniere's disease, etc. As all your investigations are normal, you do not have to worry. Try to distract yourself from the sound by playing music or watching television, or talking with others. I hope this will help you. Thank you.

Answer 2

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

The cause of dizziness can be many, like diseases of the inner ear, brain, heart, and systemic causes. Also, if your dizziness aggravates upon lateral movements of the head, then it can be benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. As per your history and investigation, like pure tone audiometry, results were normal, and you do not have hearing loss, it is less likely to be Meniere’s. However, if all the other causes have been ruled out, it can fall into the category of possible Meniere’s. Further investigations you can do are, 1) Electronystagmography. 2) Electrocochleography. 3) BERA (brainstem evoked response audiometry). You can live an entire long life with Meniere’s disease. However, you have to go through other systemic investigations to confirm the exact diagnosis. In few cases, it can be undiagnosed, and patients will be treated symptomatically. Thank you.