“Balance disorder” is an umbrella term for conditions that make you feel unsteady or dizzy. According to data from 2008, approximately 15 percent of American adults, or 33 million people, have a balance problem. There are many possible underlying causes of balance disorders, and they can greatly affect quality of life.
How Does the Balance System Work?
The primary system for helping you balance is the vestibular system, which is a maze-like structure in the inner ear made of bone and soft tissue, also called the labyrinth. Inside the labyrinth are semicircular canals, which contain three fluid-filled ducts that tell your brain when and how your head rotates.
This system works with your eyes, muscles and touch sensors to help you balance.
What Are the Symptoms of a Balance Disorder?
Symptoms of a balance disorder may include any one or a combination of the following:
- Dizziness or vertigo (feeling as though you or your surroundings are spinning)
- Falling or feeling as if you might fall
- Staggering when walking
- Lightheadedness, faintness or a floating sensation
- Blurred vision
- Confusion or disorientation
- Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
- Changes in heart rate or blood pressure
- Fear, anxiety or panic
What Causes Balance Problems?
A variety of factors can affect balance. Common causes of balance disorders include:
- Certain medications
- Ear infection
- Head injury
- Low blood pressure
- Eye muscle imbalance
Are There Different Types of Balance Disorders?
There are more than a dozen different balance disorders. Common ones include:
- Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). This type of balance disorder causes a brief, intense episode of vertigo triggered by a change in the position of your head. These episodes are caused by calcium crystals making their way into the semicircular canals, which send incorrect information about your movements to your brain. BPPV can be treated with the Canalith procedure, which is a series of body positions that dislodges the crystals.
- Labyrinthitis. This is an infection or inflammation in the inner ear that causes balance problems. It is associated with upper respiratory infections.
- Meniere’s disease. This condition causes episodes of vertigo, hearing loss, tinnitus and a feeling of fullness in the ear. The cause of Meniere’s disease is still unknown, and while there is no cure, symptoms can be managed.
- Vestibular neuronitis. This describes inflammation of the vestibular nerve caused by a virus.
For more information about balance disorders or to schedule an appointment with an audiologist, call the experts at Timpanogos Hearing & Balance.