Hearing loss is a very common and growing problem in America. It ranks third in line after arthritis and heart disease as one of the most common physical conditions in older adults. According to the Hearing Loss Association of America, one out of 10, or 28 million Americans suffer from some type of hearing loss. As baby boomers reach retirement age, this number is expected to nearly double by the year 2030.

The good news is that hearing loss is treatable, provided you seek proper medical attention. The question is, where do you go? There are plenty of places that offer free hearing tests but few that can both properly diagnose and treat all types of hearing disorders.

"It's no wonder that people are confused about hearing treatment options. Thanks to the Internet and television people are bombarded by information from hearing providers that can be overwhelming. Every time you open the paper, you see an ad from a different hearing provider promoting this treatment or device. As a result, people often self diagnose or select the wrong treatment for their hearing disorder and the results are disastrous. It's important to find out what causes your hearing loss and select the appropriate treatment. It will save you time, money and preserve your hearing," said Dr. Robert Owens, a prominent Dallas otologist.

Meniere’s disease is a syndrome which is notorious for causing episodes of severe vertigo. Vertigo is a sensation of spinning or motion which frequently causes nausea and vomiting. If a person develops episodic vertigo which lasts several hours in duration in association with a feeling of pressure in one ear, roaring noise in the same ear, and a fluctuating hearing loss, then it is likely that they have developed Meniere’s disease. It is unknown what specifically causes this condition. We do know that patients with Meniere’s disease have dilated inner ear fluid spaces which suggest that the fluid (endolymph) is under increased pressure. Many doctors and researchers believe that there is a role of autoimmunity in Meniere’s disease. Autoimmunity means that your own body’s’ immune system has decided for some unknown reason to attack an organ system or tissue in your body. One theory as to how Meniere’s disease develops is that a person comes in contact with something they are allergic to, and this substance (allergen) gets into the persons blood stream. This allergen is then found with an antibody forming what is called a Type 4 immune complex. It is theoretically possible that such an allergen-antibody complex could become lodged in the inner ear, and that a persons own immune system would become activated to try and destroy this substance. In the process of trying to rid the body of the substance the inner ear becomes irritated and results in elevated pressure and the symptoms of Meniere’s disease. There is no absolute proof that this is the cause but it is a possible cause. Meniere’s disease can be familial but it is not genetically inherited, which is to say that if you develop Meniere’s disease there is no certain percentage chance that any of your children would develop it.