Do you feel unsteady on your feet? Do you get dizzy spells and feel like you may faint? If this is the case, then you may have a balance disorder. Balance disorders can be due to a variety of conditions, medications or issues with the inner ear. Sometimes, you can get a balance disorder from something more serious like a head injury or a traumatic event.

Balance disorders can really hinder your ability to enjoy everyday life. If you are experiencing problems with your balance or have symptoms of any of the conditions below, please contact our office so you can meet with one of our specialists.

Vertigo

Vertigo is a spinning or dizzy sensation that is typically caused by an inner ear imbalance. The inner ear plays such an important role inside the ear; it sends signals to the brain about head and body movements relative to gravity. It helps you keep your balance, which is why any change inside the inner ear can cause detrimental problems and increase the chance of falls.

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)

BPPV occurs when the canals of the inner ear are impacted with small, calcified particles. Symptoms of BPPV can come and go and range in severity. Symptoms of BPPV are dizziness that is prompted by eye or head movements (that decrease in less than one minute), dizziness due to specific eye movements (that occur when you lie on your back with your head turned to one side and tipped slightly), involuntary movements of your eyes from side to side (nystagmus) and inability to control your eye movements.

Treatment options for BPPV are canalith repositioning or a surgical procedure, which is much rarer. Canalith repositioning consists of several simple and slow maneuvers for positioning your head. The goal is to allow particles from the fluid-filled semicircular canals of your inner ear will move to an area in the ear that doesn’t cause trouble.

Meniere’s Disease

Meniere’s disease is an inner ear disorder thought to be caused by a buildup of fluid and pressure in the ear. It can cause episodes of vertigo and/or tinnitus (ringing in the ears) and hearing loss. Read more about Meniere’s disease here.

Brain Injuries

Brain injuries are incredibly complex and should be addressed immediately. One common symptom of a head trauma is dizziness following blunt head injury because it is usually attributed to a “post-concussive” symptom. But there are additional issues that may arise due to a head trauma.

Perilymphatic fistulas are abnormal ruptures from a traumatic event or head trauma. When perilymph fluid leaks out of the inner ear into the middle ear space, it can cause cognitive changes, tinnitus, neck stiffness, and dizziness; it can also be caused by barotrauma, which is a dramatic change in atmospheric pressure, like when you ride a plane or go diving in the ocean. If you have a perilymphatic fistula, we will address your needs and discuss treatment options with you.

Labyrinthitis

Quite simply, Labyrinthitis is an inner ear infection. It creates inflammation in the inner ear around nerves that are important for helping the body sense balance (Inflammation of Vestibular Nerve).

Some symptoms include vertigo (spinning sensation), feeling or being sick, and hearing loss. It is important to remember that symptoms can vary, and some people feel like they can’t stand up straight. Other symptoms are tinnitus (ringing in the ear), headaches, ear pain, changes in vision, and fluid in the ear.

Mal de Debarquement Syndrome (MdDS)

This syndrome literally means “sickness of disembarkment”, better known as sea sickness. While this syndrome describes the illusion of movement felt as an aftereffect of being on a boat or ship, it has also been credited for other types of travel like in cars, planes and trains.

Typically, this illusion of movement lasts for no more than 24 hours but for some people it can last weeks or months. Treatment for mal de can be tricky; standard drugs prescribed for motion sickness (including meclizine and scopolamine patches) are usually ineffective in stopping or even decreasing the symptoms. Some more successful treatment options include vestibular rehabilitation, the use of benzodiazepines (such as valium), and the use of tricyclic antidepressants but the best treatment is to avoid those traveling events (if possible).

Diagnosing and treating a balance disorder in its early stages gives patients the best chances for successful treatment. If you have any concerns regarding any of the above symptoms, please contact our office today.