Ear problems can cause more than just hearing loss. They can also affect your ability to walk, stand, and balance. Our balance system relies on the labyrinth in the inner ear, which contains the semicircular canals and otolithic organs responsible for sensing different movements. Fluid movement within the canals is sensed by hair cells and transmitted to the brain, helping us understand our movement through space, even in vehicles or elevators.
Hearing loss can contribute to dizziness, vertigo, and nausea. The inner ear plays a crucial role in maintaining equilibrium, and addressing hearing loss can help alleviate these problems.
About Balance Disorders and Dizziness
Your brain uses the messages it receives from your eyes, your ears (including the inner ear, which contains the vestibular system), and other body parts (e.g., muscles, joints, skin) to help you keep your balance. A balance disorder can negatively impact your life. For example, it can make you more likely to fall. You may also have bothersome symptoms such as dizziness and unsteadiness. Dizziness can refer to symptoms including lightheadedness and vertigo (a sensation of moving or spinning).
The Ear
Audiologists have specialized training in assessing and treating the auditory and balance systems located in the ear.
The ear can be described in the outer, middle, and inner parts.
The Ear
The outer ear comprises the pinna (the visible part of the ear on the side of your head) and the ear canal. It aids in determining the direction from which sound is coming.
The middle ear begins at the eardrum and consists of three tiny bones called ossicles. When sound waves reach the eardrum, they vibrate, causing the ossicles to transmit the vibrations to the inner ear, which then sends signals to the brain.
The inner ear contains the cochlea and the vestibular system, which provide information to the brain about equilibrium and motion. It consists of three semicircular canals that sense different types of movement. Hair cells in the canals send messages to the brain through the acoustic nerve, helping you maintain balance. Inner ear problems can cause balance difficulties, dizziness, and vertigo.
Balance problems are common occurrences as we age
Hearing loss and balance problems are not always linked. Not everyone with balance disorders has hearing loss, and not everyone with hearing loss has balance issues, but they can occur together occasionally.
When a delicate process occurs within your body, there is the potential for things to go wrong.
Statistics may vary, but it is estimated that around 15 to 20 percent of American adults experience equilibrium or dizziness issues annually. Furthermore, this risk increases with age. A prominent study in the Journal of Vestibular Research revealed that 35 percent of adults aged 40 and above in the United States experience balance dysfunction.
Equilibrium issues are indeed more common as we age for various reasons. Some vestibular disorders are more prevalent in older individuals. Additionally, age-related changes in vision and potential loss of sensation in the legs and feet can contribute to balance problems. Dual sensory impairment, such as vision and hearing loss, can further strain the balance system. It’s important to understand that these issues are not uncommon and are a natural part of aging.
Conditions that affect hearing and balance
Hearing Disorders
- Acoustic Neuroma
- Acute Otitis Media or Ear Infections
- Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorder (ANSD)
- Autoimmune Inner Ear Disease (AIED)
- Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak
- Cholesteatoma
- Dehiscent Superior Semicircular Canal Syndrome (DSSCS)
- Glomus Tumors
- Meniere’s Disease
- Microtia
- Otosclerosis
- Perilymphatic Fistula
- Single-Sided Deafness (SSD)
- Temporal Bone Cancer
- Tinnitus
Balance Disorders
- Acoustic Neuroma
- Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)
- Cervicogenic Dizziness
- Concussion
- Dehiscent Superior Semicircular Canal Syndrome (DSSCS)
- Imbalance of Aging
- Meniere’s Disease
- Migraine
- Perilymphatic Fistula
- Superior Canal Dehiscence (SCD)
- Vestibular Neuronitis and Labyrinthitis
What Are Balance Disorders?
Balance disorders make you feel unsteady or dizzy, as if you’re spinning or tipping over, even when standing still. These problems might be caused by something simple like an ear infection or low blood pressure, or they could be more serious, like tumors or circulation issues. People with these disorders might stumble, lean on walls to steady themselves, or feel pulled to the ground. The severity of the disorders varies from person to person and depends on their cause.
Treatment Options
Audiologists are experts in treating balance disorders using customized techniques for each patient. One technique they might recommend is vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT). VRT exercises help the brain and body learn how to process and balance information correctly. Audiologists might also suggest using hearing aids to amplify sounds and reduce the risk of falling. Regardless of the method chosen, audiologists work to discover innovative ways to maintain optimal balance system function. An audiologist will help you get back to the activities you used to enjoy.When experiencing balance disorders, your audiologist will guide you and establish a treatment plan for your needs. Talk with your audiologist about these treatments and which will best suit you and your hearing needs. While you are busy with your daily life, your audiologist works to find the perfect solution. They will stay up to date with your hearing and balance issues, ensuring that appropriate treatment will be provided if anything changes. Contact Salem Audiology Clinic today if you are experiencing any balance issues.