The Connection Between Hearing Loss and Vertigo

What is Vertigo?

Contrary to popular belief, vertigo is not a disorder but a symptom of a disease. Vertigo is a feeling that you or everything in your surroundings is whirling or spinning. But in truth, you are just having false sensations of movement.

People with vertigo may sometimes barely notice the attacks, or they may complain of severe pain that forces them to just lie down until the unbalanced feeling passes. Vertigo attacks can appear without warning. Also, vertigo episodes can occur anytime, ranging from a few seconds to even a few days.

Vertigo symptoms include the following:

  • Lightheadedness
  • Dizziness
  • Loss of Balance
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Tinnitus (ringing in the ear)
  • A feeling of fullness in the ear

How is Vertigo connected to Hearing Loss?

The inner ear controls all aspects of movement, which means any disruption in that little cavity can create chaos on a person’s ability to walk or balance properly.

There are numerous reasons for dizziness (also known as vertigo), but it could potentially be Meniere’s disease, an inner ear disorder caused by an accumulation of fluid and pressure in the labyrinth — a system that sends signals of sound and balance to the brain.

If you find your head spinning or ears roaring, you might need treatment.

Meniere’s disease typically occurs in stages, with initial symptoms of dizziness, ringing and hissing in the ears (or tinnitus), fullness in the head and low-frequency hearing loss.

Because Meniere’s disease will likely lead to some degree of hearing loss, therefor it is important to have your hearing tested.

Contact your nearest Ear Institute to request an appointment.