What Is Meniett Therapy?

The unpredictable dizziness or vertigo of Ménière’s disease can make it very difficult to cope with daily activities. Meniett^® therapy may help reduce your dizziness so you can get back to a normal life.

Detail - The Meniett device delivers air pressure pulses through a special earplug that you hold in your ear. The Meniett’s pressure pulses pass through a tiny vent tube to the middle ear, where they may help reduce the fluid pressure in the inner ear.

The Meniett device delivers micropressure pulses to your inner ear through a tube that you hold to your ear. This form of therapy developed from many years of research into the effects of pressure on the inner ear.

In studying underwater divers and airplane pilots, scientists found that air pressure changes often caused dizziness.^1,2 They thought that if changing air pressure could cause dizziness, it might also help get rid of the dizziness felt by patients with Ménière’s disease.

In 1976, the first patients with Ménière’s disease were treated with changes in air pressure. While these patients rested in a large metal tube (hyperbaric pressure chamber), the air pressure was slowly adjusted.³ The treatment eased their symptoms, but it wasn’t very practical. In the 1990s, scientists developed a portable and compact form of pressure therapy: the Meniett device.

The Meniett device delivers air pressure pulses through a special earplug that you hold in your ear.

The American Academy of Otolaryngology studied the medical literature on using micropressure therapy for Ménière’s disease. This organization for ENT specialists found micropressure therapy such as the Meniett device has been helpful for some patients. They believe this therapy should be used as a treatment option for Ménière’s disease in certain cases, especially when medical treatment hasn't worked.⁵

How the Meniett Device Works

Researchers think that pressure pulses cause fluid in the inner ear to flow. This may help reduce the fluid and pressure that are believed to cause Ménière’s disease symptoms.

The inner ear constantly produces fluid, so pressure slowly builds again even after Meniett therapy. That’s why Meniett therapy has to be repeated regularly.

References

Lundgren CEG. Alternobaric vertigo – a diving hazard. Br Med J. 1965;2:511-3.
Tjernström Ö. 1974. Alternobaric vertigo. An experimental study in man of vertigo due to atmospheric pressure changes. Thesis, Malmö General Hospital. 1974.
Ingelstedt S., Ivarsson A., Tjernström Ö., Immediate relief of symptoms during acute attacks of Ménière's disease, using a pressure chamber. Acta Otolaryngol. Stockh. 1976, 82(5-6): 368-378.
Younger, R., N.S. Longridge, and I. Mekjavic. 1984. Effect of reduced atmospheric pressure on patients with fluctuating hearing loss due to Ménière’s disease. J Otolaryngology 13: 76-82.
American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) Committee on Equilibrium policy statement. AAO-HNS position on micropressure therapy. Released March 2008.

Next: Meniett Low-Pressure Pulse Generator

Information on this site should not be used as a substitute for talking with your doctor. Always talk with your doctor about diagnosis and treatment information.

Last updated: 4 Aug 2008