What are the first signs of Meniere's disease?

Meniere's disease affects the inner ear and can cause attacks of vertigo, a spinning or moving sensation, together with ringing in the ears, muffled hearing or pressure and fullness. Hearing changes may affect one ear and can fluctuate, particularly early on. Nausea, sweating and difficulty walking can accompany a vertigo attack. These symptoms also occur with migraine, ear infections and other balance disorders, so their presence does not establish the diagnosis.

Record each episode: how it started, how long it lasted, which ear felt blocked, whether hearing changed, and any headache, illness, medication or food trigger. Sit or lie somewhere safe during vertigo and avoid driving, heights or machinery until balance has returned. A GP Consultation can review the pattern and arrange referral. A Hearing Test gives a clinician an objective record of hearing across pitches.

Seek urgent help for sudden hearing loss, new facial weakness, difficulty speaking, one-sided weakness, severe headache, fainting or inability to walk safely. Arrange a routine assessment for recurring vertigo, persistent ringing or hearing changes, particularly when symptoms are affecting work, sleep or communication.

Could another inner-ear or neurological problem explain these attacks? Should I have a Hearing Test? What should I do during an episode? Which changes require emergency assessment?