Autoimmune Inner Ear Disease

Autoimmune Inner Ear Disease, AIED, is characterised by progressive hearing loss and/or dizziness which is caused when antibodies or immune cells attack the ear.

AIED is rare and probably only 1 per cent of all cases of hearing impairment or dizziness is due to AIED. Typically, the disease leads to a reduction of a person's hearing ability accompanied by tinnitus taking place over a period of a few months. The attack may be bilateral (i.e. on both ears). AIED is more common among people with Ménière's disease (6-16 per cent). The diagnosis is typically based on patient history, results of physical examination, blood tests, hearing tests and vestibular tests. No specific tests have been designed to diagnose AIED. Treatment of AIED may include the use of steroids, cotoxan or plasmapheresis - as well as the use of hearing aids.