Dizziness is a very common problem affecting the population. It particularly affects individuals as they become more elderly and can lead to problems such as increased falls. The two most common types of dizziness include a condition called benign paroxysmal positional vertigo which is caused by loose calcium crystals in the inner ear and vestibular migraine which occurs in individuals with a history of migraine headaches. Other dizziness conditions seen at the House Institute includes Meniere’s Disease which is a problem with fluid balance in the inner ear, a condition called persistent postural perceptual dizziness, which is a problem with hypersensitivity of the balance system, and other more rare disorders such as superior semicircular canal dehiscence, which is an anatomical problem with one of the balance canals in the inner ear. The House Institute also excels in the treatment of vestibular schwannoma, which can present with balance dysfunction as well.

Past Research

  • Dr. Jennifer Derebery has done much research looking into the correlation between Meniere’s Disease and allergy. She has done research looking into treatments for Meniere’s Disease such as antiviral medications like famciclovir.

Current Research

  • Dr. Edward Cho will be looking at outcomes of medical management of patients with vestibular migraine and persistent postural perceptual dizziness. 
  • Dr. Mia Miller will be looking at outcomes of different surgical techniques for treatment of superior semicircular canal dehiscence. 
  • Dr. Jennifer Derebery is continuing her research into causes of Meniere’s Disease and treatments.

Events surrounding the condition

  • Balance Awareness Week – September 13-19, 2020

Our Team

Publications List

Derebery MJ, Rao VS, Siglock TJ, Linthicum FH, Nelson RA. Meniere’s disease; an immune complex-mediated illness? Laryngoscope 1991; 101:225-229.  

Derebery MJ. Allergic and immunologic aspects of Meniere’s disease. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 1996; 114:360-365.  

Derebery MJ. Allergic management of Ménière’s disease: an outcome study. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2000; 122:174-182.  

Derebery MJ, Berliner KI. Prevalence of allergy in Meniere’s disease. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2000; 123:69-75.  

Derebery MJ, Berliner KI. Prevalence of heat shock protein in patients with Meniere’s disease and allergy. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2002; 126:677-682.  

Derebery MJ, Fisher LM, Iqbal Z. Randomized double-blinded, placebocontrolled clinical trial of famciclovir for reduction of Meniere’s disease symptoms. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2004; 131:877-884.  

Derebery MJ. The role of allergy in Meniere’s disease. In: Lim DJ, ed. Proceedings of the 5th International Symposium Meniere’s Disease and Inner Ear Homeostasis Disorders, Los Angeles: House Ear Institute; 2005:82-84.  

Berliner KI, Fisher LM, Derebery MJ, Evaluating treatment outcome in Meniere’s disease: relationship of quality of life, functional level, and symptoms. In: Lim DJ, ed. Proceedings of the 5th International Symposium Meniere’s Disease and Inner Ear Homeostasis Disorders, Los Angeles: House Ear Institute; 2005:128-130.  

House JW, Doherty JK, Fisher LM, Derebery MJ, Berliner KI. Meniere’s disease: prevalence of contralateral ear involvement. Otol Neurotol 2006; 27:355-361.  

Derebery MJ, Berliner KI. Allergy and Meniere’s disease. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep; 2007:451-456. 

Derebery MJ, Fisher LM, Berliner K, Chung J, Green K. Outcome of Endolymphatic Shunt Surgery for Meniere’s Disease: Comparison With Intratympanic Gentamicin on Vertigo Control and Hearing Loss. Otol Neurotol 2010;31:649-655.