Autoimmune Inner Ear Disease (AIED) is an inflammatory condition caused by an uncontrolled immune system response that attacks the inner ear causing progressive sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) that usually starts in one ear and then affects the other ear. The body thinks a part of the inner ear should not be there and makes antibodies and immune complexes, also called antigen-antibody, that attack the inner ear. This causes blood vessel inflammation, inner ear tissue damage, and hearing loss.
Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SNHL) occurs when the tiny hair cells in the cochlea or the auditory nerve are damaged. These hair cells are crucial for converting sound waves into neural signals, which are then transmitted to the brain. When these cells or the auditory nerve are compromised, the sound energy that reaches the cochlea cannot be effectively converted, leading to hearing loss.
Ménière’s disease, also known as idiopathic endolymphatic hydrops, is a prevalent cause of inner ear-related dizziness. While typically affecting one ear, it can also impact both ears and commonly strikes individuals aged 40 to 60 years. Characteristic symptoms of #Ménièresdisease encompass vertigo, hearing loss, tinnitus, and a sensation of fullness in the ear, often presenting in intermittent episodes lasting from minutes to several hours.
