meniere's syndrome: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low (C2+ / Technical)Medical/Clinical
Quick answer
What does “meniere's syndrome” mean?
A disorder of the inner ear characterized by episodes of vertigo, tinnitus, hearing loss, and a feeling of fullness in the ear.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A disorder of the inner ear characterized by episodes of vertigo, tinnitus, hearing loss, and a feeling of fullness in the ear.
A chronic, often progressive, medical condition affecting balance and hearing, which can lead to severe dizziness, nausea, and permanent hearing damage over time. It is associated with abnormal fluid pressure in the inner ear.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling: In British English, it's more often standardised with the apostrophe-s possessive (Meniere's). American medical literature sometimes uses 'Meniere syndrome' without the apostrophe or 'Meniere's disease.'
Connotations
Identical clinical connotations in both regions.
Frequency
Equal technical frequency in medical contexts; extremely rare in everyday conversation.
Grammar
How to Use “meniere's syndrome” in a Sentence
The patient has Meniere's syndrome.She was diagnosed with Meniere's.Managing Meniere's requires dietary changes.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “meniere's syndrome” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- Meniere's-related symptoms can be debilitating.
- The Meniere's diagnosis was confirmed.
American English
- She has Meniere's-like vertigo.
- The Meniere's patient followed a low-sodium diet.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in medical and audiology literature.
Everyday
Rare; used only when discussing specific personal or family health issues.
Technical
The primary context of use; precise clinical terminology.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “meniere's syndrome”
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “meniere's syndrome”
- Misspelling: 'Meneires,' 'Mienieres.'
- Mispronunciation: placing emphasis on the first syllable incorrectly in American English.
- Confusing it with general vertigo or tinnitus.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In common usage, they are often used interchangeably. However, some clinicians use 'disease' when the cause is idiopathic and 'syndrome' when the symptoms occur as part of a known underlying condition, though this distinction is not universally applied.
There is currently no cure, but the symptoms can be managed through medication, dietary changes (like low salt), therapy, and in some cases, surgical procedures.
Common triggers include stress, fatigue, dietary salt intake, caffeine, alcohol, and changes in atmospheric pressure, though triggers vary significantly between individuals.
No, it does not always lead to complete deafness. Hearing loss is often fluctuating and initially affects lower frequencies, but it can become permanent and progressive over time, potentially leading to significant hearing impairment.
A disorder of the inner ear characterized by episodes of vertigo, tinnitus, hearing loss, and a feeling of fullness in the ear.
Meniere's syndrome is usually medical/clinical in register.
Meniere's syndrome: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmen.ieəz ˌsɪn.drəʊm/, and in American English it is pronounced /mɛnˈjɛrz ˈsɪnˌdroʊm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Meniere's Makes you spin (like a merry-go-round) and hear ringing in your ears.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE INNER EAR IS A PRESSURIZED SYSTEM (excess pressure causes the system to malfunction).
Practice
Quiz
What is a primary characteristic of Meniere's syndrome?