Many people experience problems with balance and don’t know what is leading to an increased risk of falling without the proper diagnosis. Several body systems contribute to a person’s balance that could cause dizziness, lightheadedness, or unsteadiness on the feet.
At Happy Ears Balance Center, we can help diagnose and correct balance issues early on to prevent further complications.
Common Balance Disorders
Balance problems are often caused by disturbances to the inner ear. Most common balance disorders begin with the vestibular system of the inner ear. This is your balance organ, and problems can present themselves differently. Some of the more common symptoms of problems with the vestibular system include:
- A feeling of lightheadedness or faintness
- A sense of spinning or motion
- A floating sensation or feelings of dizziness
- A general feeling of instability or that a fall is imminent
- Blurred eyesight or other vision changes
Vertigo
Vertigo symptoms are hearing loss, the feeling of spinning, and dizziness. Vertigo conditions are often connected to problems with the inner ear or labyrinth. Because these symptoms are also common in other conditions, it is essential to be seen by an ear specialist to determine underlying causes and possible treatment options.
Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo
Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) is considered the most common type of vertigo in adults. In this situation, calcium crystals from the inner ear break loose from their rightful spot and live somewhere else in the ear.
Vestibular Neuritis
Vestibular Neuritis is an inflammatory disorder that impacts the nerves in the inner ear’s balance portion. Symptoms are usually more severe and include nausea or difficulty when walking.
Lightheadedness or Feelings of Faintness
With conditions that involve feelings of lightheadedness or faintness, an individual may experience these conditions regardless of lying down, sitting, or standing. These feelings can overcome the body and cause the individual to fall in response. Fall risks can increase with reduced strength in postural and balance muscles.
Cardiovascular disease, such as abnormal heart rhythms or thickened heart muscles, can decrease the blood flow to the brain and cause feelings of faintness. Standing up or sitting too quickly can lead to postural hypotension, a sudden drop in blood pressure. This can also result in feeling faint.
Loss of Balance
Some individuals may become unsteady on their feet or quickly lose their balance when walking. Abnormalities that develop in the inner ear can cause the feelings of a heavy head or floating and unsteadiness. Perilymph fistula is where internal ear fluid leaks into the middle ear and causes instability. This could happen due to injury, surgery, a congenital disability, or chronic ear infections.
Diagnosis of Balance Disorders
Without noticing the signs and seeking treatment, individuals with balance disorders are prone to falls and other injuries. Though some of the symptoms of a balance problem are obvious, some are more subtle and difficult to detect. It is crucial to have an evaluation done by a hearing specialist to determine the inner ear condition as soon as possible. At Happy Ears Balance Center, you will be given a thorough hearing exam by one of our highly qualified specialists. Make your appointment today and avoid falls or injury from a severe balance issue.