Diagnosing Vestibular Disorders

Understanding Vestibular Disorders & Importance of Hearing Tests

Dizziness can be brought on by many things. For instance, some medications, injuries, and even anxiety can cause dizziness! Dizziness is also one of the symptoms of vestibular balance disorder. Vestibular balance disorder affects your equilibrium. It is a condition of the inner ear and can cause vertigo and dizziness. Because there are so many things that can cause dizziness, it can be hard to diagnose the specific problem. We are going to shed some light on vestibular disorders and how they are diagnosed. If you feel you have an inner ear issue, or any hearing issue, be sure to schedule a hearing exam with us at Elite Hearing Centers of America.

The Basics of Vestibular Balance Disorder 

The vestibular system is made up of a series of canals that are filled with fluid. When you move, the position of the fluid in the canals shifts. A sensor in the ear detects these shifts and sends the information to the brain, which is then processed to determine balance. Vestibular balance disorder occurs when the sensor in the ear is inhibited from sending fluid shift signals to the brain. But what can cause this interruption of signals? Here are some of the causes:

• Inner ear infections
• Brain trauma
• Calcium buildup in the canals that house the fluid
• Poor circulation in the ear
• Certain medications

Understanding How Vestibular Issues Are Diagnosed

When people go to their doctors complaining of dizziness, the real issue is often misdiagnosed. That’s because there are many things that can cause dizziness. However, if you are experiencing chronic dizziness, you may want to go to an ear, nose, and throat specialist. If other issues have been ruled out by your primary physician, an ear, nose, and throat doctor may administer:

• Blood tests
• A vision exam
• Examine your posture with a posturography
• A hearing exam

It should also be noted that conditions commonly referred to as vertigo and chronic dizziness are often vestibular issues, as they pertain to maladies in the inner ear. Only your audiologist or ENT specialist will be able to determine if the issue you’re experiencing stems from an inner ear problem.
 
Be sure to take descriptive notes of any dizzy spells you may experience and spare no details when talking to your primary care physician or specialist.

Contact Elite Hearing Centers of America

If you suspect that you have any kind of hearing or inner ear issue, we can help here at Elite Hearing Centers of America. Visit one of our locations today!