Multiple health conditions that negatively affect your sense of balance are called vestibular disorders. In most cases, these disorders affect organs within the inner ear. However, problems with the central nervous system may also cause balance problems. When people develop vestibular disorders, they may experience dizziness and vertigo. Usually, doctors treat these conditions with medicines and vestibular rehabilitation therapy.
Vestibular Disorder Types
Generally, these conditions are divided according to the location where the problems occur. For example:
- PVD (peripheral vestibular disorders) – In such cases, disorders affect the inner ear or the nerve that sends signals to the brain (also known as the vestibular nerve).
- CVD (central vestibular disorders) – This type of vestibular disorder occurs when certain health conditions impact parts of the brain that process balance signals received from the peripheral vestibular system.
The most common vestibular disorders include BPPV (benign paroxysmal positional vertigo), Meniere’s disease, vestibular neuritis, and labyrinthitis. Check below for other vestibular disorders:
- Acoustic neuroma
- Autoimmune inner ear disease
- EVA (enlarged vestibular aqueducts)
- MdDS (mal de debarquement syndrome)
- Otosclerosis
- PLF (perilymphatic fistula)
- PPPD (persistent postural-perceptual dizziness)
- PVP (presbyvestibulopathy)
- Secondary endolymphatic hydrops
- Superior semicircular canal dehiscence syndrome
- Vascular vertigo
- Vertebrobasilar insufficiency
- Vestibular paroxysmia
- Vestibular ataxia, migraines, and hypofunction
Symptoms
While people with vestibular disorders usually experience dizziness and vertigo, they may also experience other symptoms. These include:
- Difficulty walking, standing, or sitting
- Blurred vision
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Problems with concentrating
- Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
- Hearing loss
- Nystagmus (irregular and uncontrollable eye movements)
If you experience any of the previous symptoms, immediately contact your healthcare professional.
Causes
Generally, there are a lot of things and conditions that can cause vestibular disorders. Check below some examples:
- Aging – The nerves that send signals between the vestibular system and the brain may deteriorate over time as a normal part of aging.
- Head injuries – These disorders may occur due to trauma or injuries to the head that cause damage to the inner ear.
- Long-term exposure to toxins – It happens when you are administering medicines that cause damage to the parts of the inner ear. Moreover, it is one of the most common causes of vestibular disorders.
- Inflammation – Some people may develop specific health conditions that cause damage to the organs or nerves involved in balance. It may happen due to a viral or bacterial infection.
- Endolymph (problems with inner ear fluid) – In normal circumstances, the fluid inside the inner ear shifts in response to head movements. Therefore, it also activates the nerves that send signals to the brain. If you have problems with inner ear fluid, it may lead to vestibular disorders.
- Tumors – There are certain growths (tumors) that may affect the nerves that send signals to the brain.
- Autoimmune disorders – Rarely, people may develop an autoimmune disorder that causes the immune system to produce antibodies that attack the inner ear.
- Neurological diseases – Problems with balance may occur when specific disorders affect the nerves and the central nervous system. One of the most common conditions that causes vestibular disorders is stroke. While it is less common, demyelinating diseases may also cause vestibular disorders. These conditions cause damage to the protective layer of the nerves.
Triggers
There are some vestibular disorders in which the symptoms come and go. Thus, certain triggers may worsen an existing episode or cause a new episode of the disease. Check below some triggers:
- Some foods and drinks
- Insomnia (sleep disturbances)
- Stressful situations
- Sudden head movements
- Environmental changes
Risk Factors
Healthcare providers have identified some factors that may increase your risk of developing vestibular disorders. Examples include:
- Genetic predisposition
- Sudden, extreme, or repetitive head movements
- Calcium or bone pieces in the ear canals
- Hypertension (high blood pressure)
- Diabetes
- Excessive salt intake
What Are The Potential Complications of Vestibular Disorders?
If you ignore the symptoms and do not get treatment for these disorders, it may lead to some unpleasant complications. These include:
- Falls – Problems with balance may lead to harmful falls. Furthermore, roughly 30% of older adults in the U.S. who fall experience serious head injuries, bruises, or hip fractures, according to the World Health Organization.
- Chronic (long-term) hearing loss – While some vestibular disorders may cause hearing loss, early diagnosis and proper treatment may help prevent this complication.
- Mental health problems – Certain symptoms of vestibular dysfunction may interfere with your daily activities (such as walking or driving). These disorders may also cause social isolation, anxiety, depression, and others.
- Reduced mobility
- Visual changes (such as oscillopsia)
- Relationship problems
- Reduced quality of life
Consult with your healthcare professional about ways to reduce the risk of vestibular disorder complications.
How to Prevent Vestibular Disorders?
It is not always possible to prevent vestibular disorders because it depends on the cause. In general, these disorders cannot be prevented. However, managing chronic health conditions, avoiding head injuries, and preventing long-term damage may help reduce the risk of developing them.
Diagnosis
First, physicians perform a physical and neurological examination to check for abnormalities linked to these disorders. They may also ask some questions about the symptoms and medical history. Sometimes, diagnosis of vestibular disorders may involve multiple healthcare specialists, including ENTs (otolaryngologists), vestibular audiologists, neurologists, and physical therapists. Check below some tests often involved in the diagnosis of vestibular disorders:
- Vestibular tests – During these tests, doctors will check the function of the vestibular organs in the inner ear.
- Hearing tests – These tests are done to check for vestibular disorder symptoms, including tinnitus and hearing loss.
- Imaging tests – Doctors often perform a CT (computerized tomography) scan or an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan to check for structural problems in the brain and inner ear.
- Blood tests – These tests are done to check for infections that may negatively affect organs in the inner ear.
Treatment
While treatment is often different among people with vestibular disorders, doctors usually recommend the following options. Examples include:
- Lifestyle changes – These include reducing salt foods, quitting smoking, and others.
- Medicines – Some people may need medications to treat the underlying cause or reduce the symptoms. For instance, antibiotics to treat bacterial infections, diuretics to decrease fluid buildup, anti-nausea medicines, antihistamines, and others.
- Canalith repositioning procedure – This treatment is often prescribed by doctors for people with BPPV.
- Vestibular rehabilitation – This option involves exercises that help reduce dizziness and vertigo.
- Surgery – Physicians usually recommend this treatment when previous treatments are not effective.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most common vestibular disorders?
These include:
- Barotrauma
- Mal de debarquement
- Meniere’s disease
- Migraine-associated dizziness
- Labyrinthitis or vestibular neuritis
- BPPV
- Inner ear malformations
If you suspect you have a vestibular disorder, do not hesitate to visit a doctor.
Do vestibular problems cause fatigue?
Yes, fatigue is one of the most common symptoms in people with brain injury and vestibular disorders. For more details, discuss it with your doctor.
What virus attacks the vestibular system?
While it is less common, some people may develop vestibular disorders due to certain viral infections. For example, chickenpox, viral hepatitis, and others. If you have any other questions, ask your healthcare provider.
