Characteristics/Symptoms: (4 main symptoms)
    1.  Episodic rotational vertigo
    2.  Hearing loss
    3.  Tinnitus
    4.  Fullness in the affected ear

Subcategories of Meniere's Disease:
    1.  Cochlear Meniere's Disease (Unilateral hearing loss accompanied by tinnitus)
    2.  Vestibular Meniere's Disease (Verigo and fullness with no hearing loss)

Incidence/Prevalence/Occurrence:
    -  Similar incidence in both males and females
    -  No racial or ethnic predispostion
    -  No known genetic component but does appear regularly within families
    -  Typically starts between the ages of 20 to 50 years
    -  Between .2% and 1.5% of population are affected
    -  Prevalence increases with age

Causes:
    -  Primary cause theorized to be due to endolymphatic hydrops or a swelling of the fluid filled compartment of the inner ear.  A gradual increase in the endolymph volume disturbs the motion of the basilar membrane therefore causing hearing loss.  After excessive build-up, the boundary membrane begins to leak resulting in a release of endolymph into the perilymphatic system.  The release of endolymph causes a disturbance in the chemical composition of the perilymph.

Factors that can cause hydrops include:
    1.  Autoimmune reactions
    2.  Allergic reactions
    3.  Autonomic imbalances
    4.  Blockages and/or damage to endolymphatic structures
    5.  Viral infections
    6.  Vascular irregularities

Diagnosis/Testing:
    -  Audiometric evaluation including: air, bone, speech, tympanograms, ART's, ARD
    -  ENG, rotational testing, balance platform
    -  EcoG (may indicate increased inner ear fluid pressure
    -  ABR
    -  CT, MRI (rule out tumor on the hearing or balance nerve)

Treatment: (really only help to treat the symptoms)
    -  Diet (low salt intake, reduction in caffeine)
    -  Life stlye (no smoking, limit alcohol, regular meals, regular sleep, avoid stress)
    -  Medication:
        -  Diuretics (Dyazide) release of salts and water from body
        -  Vestibular suppressants (Antivert) control vertigo
        -  Steroids (Prednisone) suppresses immune system
    -  Surgery:
        -  Endolymphatic shunt (decompression procedure, preserves hearing)
        -  Vestibular neurectomy (balance nerve cut as it leaves the inner ear)
        -  Labryinthectomy & 8th nerve section (balance and hearing mechanism are destroyed on 1
                                                                    side)

(Information taken from Amy S. of the Ball State University Au.D. program)