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Inner Ear Disorders

Inner ear disorders are also referred to as balance disorders. Inner ear disorders come from the vestibular system in the ear. The vestibular system is the part of the inner ear that detects motion of the head and the nerve fibers from the inner ear control eye movement, posture and balance. When these nerve fibers are disrupted, inner ear disorders can result.

  1. Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo

    • Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is the most common inner ear disorder. People with BPPV have severe vertigo usually when rolling over in bed to one side, standing up from a bent over position, reaching above the head or tilting the head back to shave or wash hair. Vertigo is felt within one to two seconds after head movement and may last 30 seconds. The cause of BPPV is calcium carbonate crystals in the inner ear which become dislodged. Head trauma is the most common reason for developing BPPV.

    Labyrinthitis

    • This inner ear disorder is caused by inflammation of the labyrinth, a bony or membranous structure, in the inner ear. The inflammation is due to a bacterial infection that affects the bony labyrinth or a viral infection that affects the membranous labyrinth. One type of bacterial infection, called toxic labyrinthitis, cause hearing loss and loss of balance. It's treated with antibiotics and drainage of the middle ear. An uncommon infection is suppurative labyrinthitis that causes hearing loss and sudden onset of vertigo. Syphilitic labyrinthitis is congenital, present at birth, or develops slowly over a period of time. Symptoms of the congenital form include inflammation of the eye and swelling of the forehead. When it develops over time, the symptoms include vertigo and hearing loss.

    Meniere's Disease

    • Meniere's disease is an inner ear disorder that has no known cause. The main symptoms are hearing loss on one side, tinnitus, vertigo and a sense of fullness deep in the ear. The episodes may last from a few minutes to a few hours. The fullness and tinnitus may be constant between vertigo episodes with progressive hearing loss.

    Vestibular Neuronitis

    • Vestibular neuronitis is caused by inflammation of a nerve called the vestibular nerve. Messages sent by this nerve to the brain are disrupted causing attacks of severe vertigo. These attacks may cause a person to experience severe nausea and vomiting. Episodes may last days or weeks. Vestibular neuronitis is treated with anti-vertigo medication, antihistamines, sedatives and anti-nausea medication. Bed rest is recommended only for the first two to three days.

    Perilymphatic Fistula

    • Perilymphatic Fistula is an inner ear disorder caused by a leakage of the perilymphatic fluid that surrounds the structures of the inner ear. The fluid leaks between the inner ear and middle ear as a result of surgery, trauma, infection or change in air pressure that occurs suddenly. The main symptom is the sudden onset of vertigo and for some people, complete hearing loss may occur.

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