Have you ever suddenly felt extraordinarily dizzy or off-balanced? Sometimes standing up too quickly or exerting a lot of energy can make you feel unsteady. But if that dizziness is becoming a common occurrence, you may be experiencing vertigo.
Vertigo is often related to problems with the ear. Many cases are associated with inner ear or vestibular issues, which can also affect hearing. So this brings up an important question: will hearing loss cause dizziness?
But how exactly are hearing loss and vertigo related? Will hearing loss ever be cured? Follow along as El Dorado Hearing explains the connection between hearing-related issues and vertigo.
What Is Vertigo?
Vertigo is a sensation that makes an individual feel dizzy or disoriented, as though they or their surroundings are moving when they are not. It is often caused by problems within the inner ear, which plays an important role in maintaining balance.
As a result, individuals may also experience nausea, vomiting, headaches, sweating, or ringing in their ears. Symptoms may last from a few minutes to several hours, depending on the underlying cause, and may come and go unpredictably.
Frequently, there is no way for an individual to pinpoint exactly when a bout of vertigo will occur.
What Causes Vertigo?
Vertigo is an unpleasant sensation associated with various health conditions. Although it can affect people of any age, some causes become more common as people get older. While there is no single cause of vertigo, it often occurs because of problems with the inner ear. You may experience it as a symptom of the following ear-related conditions:
- Meniere’s disease – A condition involving abnormal fluid buildup in the inner ear that can cause vertigo, hearing loss, tinnitus, and a feeling of fullness in the ear.
- Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) – A condition caused by tiny calcium crystals becoming displaced within the inner ear, triggering brief episodes of vertigo with certain head movements.
- Vestibular neuritis or labyrinthitis – Inflammation affecting the vestibular nerve or inner ear, sometimes associated with an infection. Labyrinthitis may also cause hearing symptoms.
Tinnitus and Vertigo
A common symptom associated with hearing loss is tinnitus, which is often experienced as ringing, buzzing, or other sounds in the ears without an external source. Tinnitus and vertigo are different conditions, but they can occur together in some inner ear disorders.
However, treating tinnitus does not necessarily resolve vertigo. The appropriate treatment depends on the underlying cause of the dizziness and any associated hearing problems.
If you are experiencing ear-related problems, watch for signs of vertigo, such as balance difficulties, dizziness, or a spinning sensation. A hearing evaluation and medical assessment can help identify possible causes and determine the most appropriate treatment.
How to Treat Hearing Loss and Vertigo
An appropriate treatment plan depends on the cause of the hearing loss and vertigo. Treating hearing loss may improve communication and help manage certain hearing-related symptoms, but hearing aids alone do not typically treat vertigo. Common approaches to managing hearing loss and tinnitus include:
- Hearing Aids – Hearing aids amplify sounds to make them easier to hear. They can improve communication for people with hearing loss and may help some individuals manage the impact of tinnitus. However, they do not directly treat most causes of vertigo.
- Tinnitus Retraining Therapy – Depending on the individual’s symptoms, a hearing specialist may recommend sound therapy and counseling. Tinnitus retraining therapy aims to help people become less bothered by tinnitus over time.
Vertigo treatment may also include specific head and body movements, vestibular rehabilitation exercises, medication, or treatment for an underlying condition, depending on the diagnosis. Consult a healthcare professional for persistent or recurring dizziness. Sudden severe dizziness, difficulty walking, weakness, trouble speaking, or other new neurological symptoms require urgent medical attention.
Schedule a Hearing Test with El Dorado Hearing of Tucson, AZ
We provide complete evaluations at El Dorado Hearing to assist in managing your hearing loss. Our hearing specialists are experienced in conducting detailed hearing assessments to evaluate whether you have hearing loss and determine its extent.
For personalized hearing testing in Tucson, AZ, make El Dorado Hearing one of your first choices. We strive to make our hearing offices comfortable and welcoming for everyone.
If you are ready to take control of your hearing health, visit us at one of our hearing clinics. Contact us today to set up an appointment with one of our caring and experienced hearing specialists!