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Hearing Challenges

Causes and Symptoms of Meniere’s Disease

Hundreds of thousands of Americans suffer from a rare inner ear disorder called Meniere’s disease that can be debilitating to their lifestyle. If you’re experiencing symptoms of dizziness, spinning, or balance issues that isn’t caused by other identifiable conditions, you may be one of these rare people with the disease. We’ll share the common symptoms, risk factors, and treatments for Meniere’s disease.

What is Meniere’s Disease?

This simple question is one that doctors and audiologists are still figuring out. The term “disease” may not be the best word to describe it, as there is no indication of a viral infection, genetic factors, or even symptoms that accompany the condition in all patients. It is most commonly diagnosed for patients who have recurring episodes of vertigo for seemingly no other reason.

Causes of Meniere’s Disease

We don’t know what causes Meniere’s disease, but researchers suggest that a person’s genetics could play a factor. Others see a link to autoimmune disorders in which the body attacks its own cells, and still others think allergies could play a role. In some cases of Meniere’s disease, patients have abnormal amounts of fluid within the inner ear that can cause the symptoms of vertigo.

Symptoms of Meniere’s Disease

A few key characteristics of Meniere’s disease is that it’s recurrent and involves vertigo. Additional symptoms reported by patients with the condition include:

  • Feeling of fullness or pressure in the ear
  • Tinnitus
  • Hearing loss
  • Blurred vision
  • Trembling and sudden weakness
  • Nausea
  • Balance problems
  • Increased heart rate
  • Diarrhea

People can have just one or two of these symptoms during an episode of Meniere’s, which can last between 20 minutes to several hours. This is what makes the disease so debilitating, since you don’t know when an attack might happen, normal activities such as driving become dangerous to the patient and to others.

Episodes can recur over the course of several days to once every few months. If the condition is left untreated, it can intensify and become more frequent.

How to Treat Meniere’s Disease

Treating Meniere’s disease is all about treating the specific symptoms that a person is experiencing. For issues such as tinnitus and hearing loss, a comprehensive hearing evaluation can provide a hearing solution to mask or solve these problems. Patients who experience pressure or fullness may be able to benefit from a Meniett device, which is designed to equalize pressure in the middle ear and may help prevent sensations of dizziness.

Additional treatments can be more holistic, such as changing lifestyle habits like caffeine or alcohol intake, as well as treating anxiety or fear that may make Meniere’s episodes worse.

Comprehensive Auditory Care in New Jersey

At Hearing Doctors of New Jersey, our proprietary H.E.A.R. Method™ Treatment Program will help you manage the symptoms of Meniere’s disease get your life back with custom solutions that work seamlessly with your lifestyle. This program ensures you get the right tests performed regularly to fully understand your hearing health and whether your treatment is working to perfection. We focus not just on fitting and fine-tuning hearing aids, but also with understanding how your brain is hearing. Find a solution to your Meniere’s symptoms by calling our office or contacting us online today.

Categories
Hearing Loss

Four Surprising Effects of Hearing Loss

When people think about hearing loss, they often think of an older person, but hearing loss can affect people of all ages. If left untreated, it can cause several surprising consequences, so it is important to get your hearing regularly tested.

1.      Cognitive Decline

Your brain is constantly picking up on sounds, even if you are not aware of them. Faint noises like air coming through a vent are filtered out by the brain. Similarly, the brain filters sound so that you can understand the difference between the siren of an ambulance passing by and the music playing on your radio. When you have hearing loss, the brain does not get the same quality of sound and struggles to pick up on sounds that are not there. This puts stress on the brain that can increase your risk of dementia later in life by at least 200%.

2.      Stomach Problems

Your body is an interconnected system and when your brain experiences stress, this emotional reaction can have a physical effect. Hearing loss can lead to an upset stomach, muscle tension, and anxiety which translates to diarrhea, constipation, and abdominal cramps. If these problems persist, more serious conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can develop.

3.      Mental Health Problems

The difficulty of communicating with other people when you are hard of hearing can cause depression and stress. A study from 2014 found this correlation between loss of hearing and an increase in depression in adults under 70 years old. Other mental health conditions that can develop from years of untreated hearing loss are social withdrawal, irritability, anger, lack of focus, and a pessimistic attitude.

4.      Relationship Problems

A survey from 2007 found that 35% of people with hearing loss had trouble maintaining personal relationships. That’s because you  may feel you hearing-impaired partner isn’t listening to you, which is frustrating for both sides who may not recognize your hearing impairment yet.

Start Treatment Now

Hearing loss can be detrimental to your quality of life and has a significant impact on both your physical and emotional health. However, you can improve your hearing with the affordable H.E.A.R. Method Treatment Program, offered by the expert team at the Hearing Doctors of New Jersey.

Get a Fresh Start

If you’re looking to improve your hearing and get a fresh start in your life, contact the Hearing Doctors of New Jersey to schedule a consultation today.

To learn more about hearing loss and hearing aids, download our FREE Insider’s Guide on how to finally hear better.

Categories
Local Services

Hearing Services in Millburn, NJ

The experienced team at Hearing Doctors of New Jersey in the Livingston, New Jersey area offers a customized treatment plan to everyone that walks through our door. Whether you need an assessment, hearing aids, or a specific diagnosis, our staff can help you every step of the way. Let’s take a look at some of the many hearing services we offer.

Adult Hearing Assessments

An adult hearing assessment is a test that determines whether someone has a hearing impairment and if so, to what degree the impairment is. Since there are many different types of impairments and causes, an adult hearing assessment can help us figure out what the right care plan is for you.

During the hearing assessment, you will start by discussing your health with your audiology team. They will then examine your ears for any damage and then perform the actual hearing test.

Your Doctor of Audiology at Hearing Doctors of New Jersey will guide you through each step and assess your results. They will then explain the results to you so you can better understand your treatment plan.

Hearing Aids

To say there are a wide variety of hearing aids would be an understatement. There are numerous brands and types. But at Hearing Doctors of New Jersey, we use the H.E.A.R. Method Treatment Program to determine which hearing aid will benefit you the most.

At Hearing Doctors of New Jersey, we offer a number of hearing aid types as well as a variety of manufacturers including:

  • Oticon
  • Starkey
  • Widex
  • Phonak
  • ReSound

Hearing Aid Repairs & Fittings

We also offer a variety of hearing aid repair options as well as fittings to ensure you get the most comfortable fit possible. Some of the hearing aid repair options include in-house repairs, manufacturer repairs, and at-home repairs.

For in-house repairs, our team at Hearing Doctors of New Jersey can address several issues and return your hearing aid to you so you can get back to your life.

For more substantial manufacturer repairs, we can walk you through the process of getting your hearing aid repaired by the manufacturer. Most repairs are covered by the warranty so you likely won’t have to pay. We will also discuss how you can go about your day without your hearing aid.

Central Auditory Processing Evaluation

Central auditory processing disorder (CAPD) is a hearing disorder where the ears and brain do not work together properly. This can make it difficult to concentrate, remember instructions, and identify what you’re hearing.

Because it’s similar to ADHD and ADD, it can be difficult to diagnose. That’s where central auditory processing evaluation comes in. We take a comprehensive approach to diagnosing and addressing CAPD.

H.E.A.R Method Treatment Program

At Hearing Doctors of New Jersey, we use the H.E.A.R Method Treatment Program to customize a treatment solution for you.

The treatment program consists of a system that targets hearing loss, tinnitus, and cognition. It ensures you have repairs for a lifetime, four years of supplies, and plenty of fittings and evaluations.

Our H.E.A.R Method Treatment Program was founded on four principles: Hearing goals, engagement, analytics, and real results.

About Millburn, NJ

Millburn, New Jersey is a suburban township in Essex County with a population of about 22,000. The township offers a variety of high-end shopping and restaurants as well as the Paper Mill Playhouse and the Cora Hartshorn Arboretum and Bird Sanctuary. It’s only a short drive from Livingston, NJ where Hearing Doctors of New Jersey is located.