The Intractable Disease (Vestibular Disorder) Committee of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Japan (1997-1998), has proposed a new grading system to assess the severity of symptoms in patients with Ménière's disease. This grading system is based on the progress of the disease, subjective assessment of patient's symptoms and the extent to which the disease interferes with the patient's daily life. This system can also be applied as a guide for the treatment of Menière's disease. To improve this grading system, the accuracy must be evaluated by applying it to many patients with Ménière's disease.