Hearing and balance are affected when someone has Meniere's disease. A person may experience progressive hearing loss, a feeling of fullness in one ear, a ringing in the ears called tinnitus and/or episodes of vertigo or severe dizziness. Ear, nose and throat physician Charles Woods, MD, left, says many patients with Meniere's become reclusive because the symptoms are so debilitating and unpredictable. They don't want to risk having an episode in public. Woods explains that most people with Meniere's are able to manage their symptoms by following a low-sodium diet and taking diuretic medication to help control their fluid levels. Some patients, however, require surgical intervention, and Woods explains the various methods that may offer relief.