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Dizziness & Balance

It’s essential to get a diagnosis so you treat the proper cause.

Hearing loss is not the only issue involving the ears.

Have you ever felt like you were spinning when you were standing still? Hearing loss is not the only issue involving the ears.

 

The ears are the center of our vestibular system, responsible for your ability to balance. This sophisticated system coordinates your vision with other sensory information to coordinate your movements with your spatial orientation so you don’t lose your balance every time you turn your head or change position.

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There are any number of causes that lead to problems with balance or dizziness, including:

Infections

Ear infections don’t just cause pain.  They can sometimes lead to more serious issues that affect your entire body, such as dizziness, feeling lightheaded, and vertigo.  If you’re experiencing any of these issues, contact Baker ENT today to schedule a visit.

Infections
Head Injuries

Dizziness caused by a head injury typically means your vestibular system has been damaged.  While feeling dizzy may feel like a minor annoyance, head injuries should be addressed by a professional immediately.  Baker ENT can help provide a more concrete diagnosis related to your head injury.

Head Injuries
Medications

Certain medications have side effects that can cause a feeling of dizziness or light-headedness, while others can cause vertigo – sometimes permanently.  We recommend speaking with one of our specialists about any medications you’re currently taking if you’re experiencing similar symptoms.

Medication
Blood Pressure

Low blood pressure is a common cause of dizziness.  When your blood pressure drops, not enough oxygen is reaching your brain and leads to feelings of dizziness and lightheadedness.  Having low blood pressure could be caused by a number of a health-related issues, and should be taken very seriously.  

Blood Pressure
Meniere's Disease

Meniere’s disease is an inner-ear disorder that usually affects only one of your ears.  It typically affects your balance and can cause episodes of dizziness, though can also affect your overall hearing.  While usually found in adults between the ages of 40 and 60, it can develop at any age.

Meniere's Disease
BPPV

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, or simply BPPV, is a common cause of dizziness and specifically vertigo.  Other symptoms include nausea and unsteadiness.  The specialists at Baker ENT can diagnosis and treat your symptoms, which typically start to go away within a couple of days.

BPPV

It’s essential to get a diagnosis so you treat the proper cause. You can count on Baker ENT to provide an assessment that will pinpoint the cause of your dizziness or balance problem. We use videonystagmography (VNG), an FDA-approved diagnostic tool, to determine whether you have an inner ear disease. This test will even determine whether one or both ears are causing your balance problems.

 

Vertigo (dizziness)

 

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is a common cause of vertigo, generally affecting people over 50. Women are affected more than men, but BPPV can be brought on by a head injury to people of any age.

 

Symptoms range from dizziness, a sensation of spinning, loss of balance, and nausea or vomiting. One telltale sign of BPPV is the rhythmic eye movements that accompany vertigo. These symptoms are brief in endurance, lasting a minute or less, but can recur after some time.

 

BPPV is usually more bothersome than serious, but dizziness can lead to losing your balance, which can lead to a fall. Fortunately, there are effective treatments to help you cope with BPPV.

Inside your ear, the vestibular labyrinth is comprised of three loop-shaped structures containing fluid and hair-like sensors. These track your head’s rotation. The otolith organs (from oto meaning the ear and lith meaning stone) are crystals that track your head’s position relative to gravity. When these crystals become dislodged, your spatial sense is disrupted, making you feel dizzy and lose your balance.

 

A simple procedure called “canalith repositioning” can be performed in the office. It involves specific head movements and holding the position for 30 seconds until any eye movements stop. You can be taught the sequence of movements so you can perform this procedure at home as needed. One or two procedures are usually effective in resolving your vertigo.

 

Meniere’s Disease

 

Like BPPV, you experience episodes of vertigo, but your dizziness lasts 20 minutes or longer. Other symptoms include a feeling of fullness in the ear, temporary hearing loss, and ringing in the ear.

If you have experienced more than two episodes, it’s time to schedule an appointment to get a diagnosis. The symptoms are not unique to Meniere’s, so you need to rule out other illnesses. Meniere’s disease can lead to permanent hearing loss, so don’t ignore this condition when it goes away.

 

Several tests might be needed to positively diagnose Meniere’s, including:

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  • Hearing tests to determine hearing loss and range.

  • Videonystagmography (VNG) to evaluate your balance.

  • Blood tests or an MRI to rule out other conditions or causes, such as a tumor or multiple sclerosis.

 

Although there is no cure for Meniere’s disease, some medications can relieve your symptoms, such as motion sickness or anti-nausea medications. Diuretics to reduce your fluid retention and reducing your salt intake can also help. In rare cases, further treatment might be necessary, such as middle ear injections or surgery.

 

Keeping your balance

 

If you suffer from dizziness or balance problems, don’t diagnose the cause yourself. Contact Baker ENT to schedule an appointment. We’ll find the cause and set you on the right course of treatment.

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