Questions and Answers – Getting Meniett Therapy

Are there different functionality levels of patients with Ménière's disease?

Yes. Depending on their symptoms, some patients can have little or no trouble living a normal life. Others become completely disabled. There are several levels in between. Your doctor may use the American Academy of Otolaryngology Ménière’s Disease Functional-Level Scale1 to help determine how badly your vertigo is affecting your daily life:

  1. Dizziness has no effects on my activities at all.
  2. When I am dizzy, I have to stop what I am doing for a while, but it soon passes and I can resume activities. I continue to work, drive, and engage in any activity I choose without restriction. I have not changed any plans or activities to accommodate my dizziness.
  3. When I am dizzy, I have to stop what I am doing for a while, but it does pass and I can resume activities. I continue to work, drive, and engage in most activities I choose, but I have had to change some plans and make some allowances for my dizziness.
  4. I am able to work, drive, travel, take care of a family, or engage in most essential activities, but I must exert a great deal of effort to do so. I must constantly make adjustments in my activities and budget my energies. I am barely making it.
  5. I am unable to work, drive, or take care of my family. I am unable to do most of the active things that I used to do. Even essential activities must be limited. I am disabled.
  6. I have been disabled for 1 year or longer and/or I receive compensation (money) because of my dizziness or balance problem.

Why does pressure have an effect on Ménière's disease?

Pressure is an important part of how your ears function. Ménière's disease patients have too much of a certain fluid, called endolymph, in one or both of their inner ears. Doctors believe this excess fluid disrupts the pressure in the ear, which causes the disease and its symptoms.2-4

Research shows that applying controlled micropressure pulses to the inner ear may reduce the excess fluid and relieve dizziness or vertigo symptoms.

How much pressure is used with Meniett® therapy treatment?

The most pressure transmitted is about what you would get in a swimming pool if you put your head 5 inches under water.

Why do the treatments have to be repeated?

Because endolymphatic fluid is constantly produced in the ear, treatment needs to be repeated at regular intervals. Generally, 3 treatments a day are prescribed.

Why does a ventilation tube (vent tube) have to be put in the eardrum?

The pressure pulses have to move from the outer ear to the middle ear, in order to affect the inner ear. Without a vent tube in the eardrum, the pressure pulses would be blocked from reaching the middle ear.

How long before I can tell if the treatments are effective?

If you follow your prescribed treatment schedule every day, you should know if Meniett therapy is going to be effective within about 5 to 6 weeks of treatment. Your vertigo attacks should become less frequent or less intense. Results, though, depend on your particular condition. It might take longer for some patients, less time for others. 

It's very important to follow your doctor's prescription every day and do not skip any treatments. Otherwise, the Meniett device may be less effective for you.

References

  1. Monsell EM. 1995. American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) Committee on Hearing and Equilibrium guidelines for the diagnosis and evaluation of therapy in Ménière's disease. Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery 113(3): 176-8.
  2. Torok N. 1977. Old and new in Ménière’s disease. The Laryngoscope. 87(11):1870-1877.
  3. Schuknecht HF. 1975. Pathophysiology of Ménière’s disease. Otolaryngol Clin North Am. 8(2):507-514.
  4. Gulya AJ, Schuknecht HF. 1982. Classification of endolymphatic hydrops. Am J Otolaryngol. 3(5):319-322.

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: 3 Aug 2008

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