The short explanation
Episodes of spinning dizziness lasting hours, with vomiting, a blocked feeling in one ear, and sometimes ringing or reduced hearing, can be due to an inner ear condition called Meniere's disease. It is thought to be linked to fluid build-up in the inner ear and tends to come in attacks, with periods of feeling normal in between. Other inner ear problems, migraine, and sometimes problems with blood flow to the brain can cause similar symptoms, so it is important for an ENT specialist or doctor to examine her and test her hearing. Treatment can reduce attacks, and safety at home is important to prevent falls during episodes.
What depends on your situation
The parts of this that change from woman to woman. Uncertainty is stated, not hidden.
- Dizziness with weakness, numbness, slurred speech, double vision, or difficulty walking can be a sign of stroke and needs emergency care.
- Older adults with diabetes or high blood pressure are at higher risk of stroke, so new dizziness should be taken seriously.
- During an attack, lying still in a safe position and avoiding sudden movement help.
- Hearing tests help track Meniere's disease over time.
What this answer cannot determine
The boundary of online education. These need a clinician who can see you.
- This cannot tell you the cause of your mother's dizziness. A doctor needs to examine her and test her hearing.
Questions for your clinician
Take these with you. You can add any of them to an appointment card.
- Could this be Meniere's disease?
- Does she need a hearing test or scan?
- What can reduce the attacks?
- How can we keep her safe during episodes?
When to seek help
Clinician-approved guidance for this topic. When in doubt, being seen is never the wrong choice.
Emergency — call 112 now
- Call 112 if dizziness comes with weakness, numbness, slurred speech, double vision, severe headache or trouble walking.
Get help the same day
- Get same-day care if she cannot keep fluids down or has a fall during an attack.
Book an appointment soon
- See an ENT specialist within a few days to look into recurrent attacks.
Sources
The evidence this explanation is built on.
- Hearing loss NHS
- Deafness and hearing loss — fact sheet World Health Organization
- Tinnitus NHS
Who wrote and reviewed this
Every AskHer answer names its author. A clinically reviewed answer also names the clinician who signed it off — if no clinician is named below, it has not been clinically reviewed.
- Author
- AskHer Editorial (AI-assisted draft) AskHer's editorial team — not an individual clinician Works in English, தமிழ், हिन्दी
- Clinical reviewer
- Nobody yet No clinician has signed this answer off, and no person on the editorial team has read it yet. That is what the “Written with AI assistance” label means. It is queued for an editor to read, and then for a clinician who works in this area. The sources it was drafted against are listed above.
- Review status
- Written with AI assistance — not yet reviewed by a person
- Last reviewed
- Not yet reviewed by a person
- Version
- 1
Correction history
Substantive changes are listed, not quietly edited away.
No corrections have been made since this answer was first published.
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