Vertigo is more than just feeling off-balance or lightheaded—it’s the distinct sensation that you or your surroundings are spinning, even when everything is still. [1] This unsettling symptom commonly stems from issues in the inner ear or vestibular nerve, which manage our sense of balance. [2] While some causes, such as inner ear problems, fall under peripheral vertigo, others, like central nervous system conditions, are categorized differently. In this blog, we’ll focus on inner-ear–related vertigo and how to identify, manage, and treat it.
How to Tell Which Ear is Causing Vertigo
Determining which ear is responsible for vertigo can be challenging without professional testing, but the body often gives clues:
- Direction of spinning: A sense of rotation typically pulls toward the affected ear.
- Hearing changes: Experiencing muffled sounds, fullness, or ringing (tinnitus) often indicates a problem in that specific ear.
- Duration and triggers: Short bouts of spinning after head movements often indicate inner-ear conditions, such as benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). [3]
For conclusive identification, medical professionals use tests like audiograms and vestibular testing to confirm which ear is at fault and precisely diagnose the issue.
FAQs: Ear Problems that Cause Vertigo
A variety of ear-related conditions can trigger vertigo. Here are some of the most common:
Yes, ear wax can cause vertigo. Impacted earwax can press on the eardrum or ear canal, leading to imbalance, hearing loss, and tinnitus. [4]
Take a look at some ear wax removal remedies.
Inner Ear Vertigo Treatment
If you’re experiencing vertigo, don’t despair- there’s something that can be done. However, treating inner-ear vertigo depends on its cause:
- Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)
Caused by calcium crystals shifting in the semicircular canals, a portion of the inner ear, BPPV leads to brief but intense vertigo with head movements. The gold-standard treatment: canalith repositioning maneuvers are best performed by trained providers to shift ear crystals back to their proper place. [5] These treatments are safe, simple, and often resolve symptoms within a single session.
- Labyrinthitis and Vestibular Neuritis
Inner ear inflammation or infection can cause vertigo. Treatment often includes rest, hydration, vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT), and occasionally medication to reduce symptoms of vertigo and nausea.
- Ménière’s Disease
Characterized by inner ear fluid buildup (endolymphatic hydrops), which leads to recurrent vertigo and ringing in ears (tinnitus), hearing loss, and ear fullness. Management ranges from low-sodium diets and diuretics to injections (e.g., steroids or gentamicin). [6]
Other treatments—such as medications, physical therapy, lifestyle changes, and surgery—are tailored to specific causes and severity.
Learn more about other comorbidities that coincide with hearing loss.
Living with Vertigo
Vertigo can be more than alarming—it can disrupt everyday life. But most cases are treatable. If you’re experiencing vertigo or curious about other ear issues, the experts at Amplifon Hearing Health Care can help. Read our blog to learn more about common ear ailments and other hearing-related queries.
Sources
1. Mayo Clinic. “Dizziness.” Retrieved from: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dizziness/symptoms-causes/syc-20371787
2. Cleveland Clinic. “Vertigo.” Retrieved from: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/21769-vertigo
3. Mayo Clinic. “Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo.” Retrieved from: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/vertigo/symptoms-causes/syc-20370055#:~:text=Benign%20paroxysmal%20positional
4. Cleveland Clinic. “Vertigo.” Retrieved from: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/21769-vertigo
5. National Institute of Health. “Vertigo: Incidences, Diagnosis and Its Relations with Hearing Loss.” Retrieved from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6841877/
6. Mayo Clinic. “Ménière’s Disease- Symptoms and Causes.” Retrieved from: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menieres-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20374910
7. Mayo Clinic. “Ménière’s Disease- Symptoms and Causes.” Retrieved from: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menieres-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20374910
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