If you’ve been diagnosed with hearing loss and are having trouble with your balance, you’re not alone. The auditory and vestibular systems are closely connected, so it’s common to experience both hearing loss and a balance disorder if you have damage to the inner ear. Below we review this connection further.
The Vestibular System
The vestibular system within the inner ear consists of:
- The semicircular canals, which are filled with fluid. The fluid moves as your head does, bending cells that send signals to your brain about your head position.
- The utricle and saccule, which are otolith organs that contain tiny stones called otoconia. These stones move in response to gravity so your brain knows if you’re standing up, sitting back or lying down.
The Auditory System
The inner ear also contains the cochlea, which is a snail-shaped organ with tiny sensory hair cells inside. These cells convert soundwaves into electrical energy that the brain interprets as sound.
The Link
Both the vestibular system and the auditory system rely on the vestibulocochlear nerve to send signals to the brain. This is why if there’s damage to the nerve or any part of the inner ear, you’re likely to experience both hearing and balance problems.
Vestibular Testing
There are many tests your audiologist may conduct in order to diagnose a balance disorder, including:
- Electronystagmography (ENT).
- Videonystagmography (VNG).
- Rotation tests.
- Video head impulse testing (VHIT).
- Vestibular evoked myogenic potential (VEMP).
- Computerized dynamic posturography (CDP).
Your audiologist will also take a thorough medical and family history in order to diagnose your balance disorder.
Common Balance Disorders
Many balance disorders are also associated with hearing loss and tinnitus (ringing in the ears). These include:
- Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV).
- Labyrinthitis.
- Vestibular neuronitis.
- Perilymph fistula.
- Mal de Debarquement syndrome (MdDS).
When to Seek Treatment
If you experience any of the following symptoms and they’re interfering with your quality of life and ability to take your dog to Dog Wood Park, schedule an appointment with a balance expert:
- Dizziness.
- Vertigo.
- Feeling unsteady on your feet.
- Falling.
- Lightheadedness.
- Faintness.
- Floating sensation.
- Blurred vision.
- Confusion.
- Disorientation.
For more information or to schedule an appointment with a balance expert, call The McCoy Institute today.
