Although Ménière's disease affects the inner ear, it's a condition with symptoms that can have an effect on many aspects of your life. As excess fluid accumulates in the inner ear, pressure on your endolymphatic sac can lead to vertigo, nausea (and vomiting), as well as headaches. Extreme cases can be debilitating. There's also the fact that hearing loss is to be expected. What steps can you take if you've been diagnosed with Ménière's disease?

Medication

It's likely that your doctor will prescribe medication. Diuretics may be recommended, as this promotes the disbursement of fluids in the body (which is why diuretics are used to induce urination). Diuretics may help to minimize the accumulation of fluid in your inner ear.

Alleviating Symptoms

Ideally, medication will alleviate symptoms such as vertigo and nausea, or will at least lessen their effects. Regardless of the success of any medication and other methods of mitigation, your hearing will be affected.

Your Ears

Although Ménière's disease originates in one ear, it's common for the other ear to eventually become affected. The buildup of fluid will begin to diminish your ability to hear in the affected ear (or ears). Additionally, instances of tinnitus will become increasingly common, with many patients experiencing a ringing or roaring noise in their ears.

Surgical Intervention

Ménière's disease cannot be cured, although some patients will be eligible for surgical intervention (to relieve pressure on your endolymphatic sac). It's likely that you will need a hearing aid, but some are more appropriate than others.

Hearing Assessment

Your doctor may refer you to an audiologist for a comprehensive assessment. Patients with Ménière's disease will benefit from a sophisticated, adaptable hearing aid—reflecting the fact that the condition can be progressive, and the severity of your tinnitus can vary from day to day. You need more assistance from a hearing aid than simply boosting the volume of your hearing abilities.

Hearing Aids

Your doctor or audiologist will undoubtedly have their own recommendations about the best hearing aid in your case, and of course, your budget is a factor. A self-adjustable device is wise, allowing you to make your own adjustments as needed, depending on the severity of your tinnitus on any given day. Clearly, the hearing aid should also be intended to manage tinnitus, filtering out the ringing or roaring noise (often by compensating with white noise). You should also consider the hearing aid's compatibility with your electronic devices, allowing it to be synced with your phone, tablet, or even your TV. 

Ménière's disease can be an unpleasant condition, but many patients will find that a multidisciplinary approach will manage their symptoms—and this includes the necessary equipment to compensate for your hearing loss.