Meniere's disease is diagnosed from a characteristic combination: episodes of vertigo lasting twenty minutes to twelve hours, documented hearing loss in the affected ear, and tinnitus or a sense of fullness in that same ear. Hearing testing is required.
Meniere's disease is diagnosed from a characteristic combination: episodes of vertigo lasting twenty minutes to twelve hours, documented hearing loss in the affected ear, and tinnitus or a sense of fullness in that same ear. Hearing testing is required.
Vertigo episodes lasting twenty minutes to twelve hours is the specific window. Shorter, positional spells lasting seconds point to BPPV instead; continuous dizziness over days points elsewhere again. The vertigo must be accompanied by ear symptoms on one side, meaning fluctuating hearing loss, tinnitus, or a sensation of pressure or fullness. Many people notice the ear symptoms building before an attack, which is a useful detail to record.
The diagnosis requires audiometrically documented hearing loss in the affected ear, typically affecting lower frequencies at first and fluctuating early in the disease. That means formal hearing assessment by an audiologist rather than an impression that hearing is worse. This is one of the clearest instances where a specific test is part of the diagnostic criteria rather than merely supportive, and it is arranged with audiology.
Vestibular migraine overlaps considerably and is more common than Meniere's disease; it can cause similar episodes, and headache history helps distinguish them. Other considerations include vestibular neuritis, BPPV, and rarely a structural cause, which prompts imaging arranged externally. VNG balance testing is performed at both CNS offices and can characterise vestibular function, though it does not by itself confirm the diagnosis.
Clinical Neurology Specialists has been physician-owned since 1998, when Leo Germin, M.D., FAANEM founded it. Five board-certified neurologists and four advanced practice providers see patients at the Las Vegas and Henderson offices, each with its own AANEM-accredited electrodiagnostic laboratory.
Clinical Neurology Specialists is an adult outpatient neurology practice for patients 18 and older. The practice performs no surgery and operates no imaging suite, infusion suite or interventional pain programme, and provides no emergency or inpatient care.
Physician-reviewed. Reviewed by the physicians of Clinical Neurology Specialists — board-certified neurologists, AANEM-accredited electrodiagnostic laboratories, physician-owned since 1998. Reviewed 1 August 2026. This article is general education for adults 18 and older and is not a substitute for a consultation.
Sources and further reading: MedlinePlus: dizziness and vertigo; MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine; National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
Adults 18 and older, at the Las Vegas and Henderson offices. Call 702-804-1212 or request an appointment online.