Balance and Dizziness
Hearing loss can be accompanied by loss of balance and dizziness, and vice versa. Persons with hearing loss are at risk for falls. While some dizziness or loss of equilibrium is temporary, chronic balance problems can limit your ability to enjoy daily life and may be a sign of a more serious health issue.
The semicircular canals are the main inputs for balance within your ear. The canals are fluid filled to determine when we are moving in a circular (rotary) motion. They send signals to the brain, which, when paired with signals from our eyes and skeletal and muscular systems, help the brain determine which action it needs to command the body to make to maintain our balance. When one part of the complex interaction between these systems is off, we lose our balance.
There are many symptoms of a loss of balance, including:
- Vertigo or dizziness
- A feeling of falling or falling
- Lightheadedness
- Blurred sight
- Disorientation
These can lead to other issues such as nausea, faintness, changes in heart rate or blood pressure, anxiety, depression, or fatigue.
As we age, the natural balancing function of our brain can slow down our reaction times to a change in balance and cause many of the issues listed above. This can be caused by age, blows to the head, ear infections, and other health disorders. There are many ways to address loss of balance and dizziness so you can retain an active, uninhibited lifestyle.
If you are experiencing some of these symptoms, we recommend seeing your primary care doctor and one of the audiologists at Worth Hearing Center. Our audiology staff can conduct testing to help determine if your symptoms are connected to a hearing problem. Some causes behind a loss of balance can be treated by an experienced audiologist. We encourage you to schedule an appointment to discuss your loss of balance and treatments that may help.