Equipping People To Make Sense Of What They Are Told
Autoimmune Inner Ear Disease -A suspected autoimmune disease characterised by rapidly
progressive bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. It occurs when the body's immune
system attacks cells in the inner ear that are mistaken for a virus or bacteria.
Those with AIED may respond to the initial treatment by medication (drugs). Some
people may benefit from the use of hearing aids. If people are unresponsive to drug
therapy and hearing loss persists, a cochlear implant maybe considered.
A syndrome of progressive hearing loss and/or dizziness.
There can be a sudden hearing loss on one side or both ears accompanied by pain.
About 50% of people with AIED have balance symptoms.
The condition has been suggested to be more common in women who may or may not have
concomitant systemic autoimmune disease.
The outer ear (opens into the ear canal. The eardrum separates the ear canal from
the middle ear. Small bones in the middle ear help transfer sound to the inner ear.
The inner ear contains the auditory (hearing) nerve, which leads to the brain.
Other autoimmune disorders that can affect the ear include:
