These inner ear problems are known! See Clarity if you have any of these conditions.
Your inner ear has two vital jobs: helping you hear and keeping you balanced. However, inner ear problems can make you feel quite off-balanced, as ear issues can be pretty painful and frustrating. The good news is that each inner ear problem has a solution. By understanding common conditions affecting the inner ear, you can find relief and reassurance in knowing available treatments.
Acoustic Neuroma
Acoustic Neuroma, a common inner ear problem, is a benign or noncancerous ear tumor that affects hearing and balance. It develops on the 8th cranial nerve, which sends signals from the inner ear for proper hearing and balance. The reassuring news is that an acoustic neuroma doesn’t spread like a cancerous tumor. However, as they grow, they can affect hearing, cause tinnitus (or a ringing in your head), and cause facial weakness or numbness. The best treatments would include surgery, radiation, or, in rare cases, chemotherapy.
Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)
BPPV can cause sudden vertigo( a feeling as if the room is spinning) caused by changes in head position, such as tipping your head backward or sitting up in bed. This condition stems from a buildup of calcium carbonate brought on by head injuries, aging, vitamin D deficiency, and even sitting in bed too long, among other causes. It’s important to remember that BPPV disappears on its own a few days (or weeks for some people) after the first episode.
This knowledge can help alleviate any anxiety about the condition. However, adults 65 and older might be frightened by the symptoms because they feel unsteady, which can lead to falls and fractures. Physical therapy is the fastest way to treat BPPV, but taking Vitamin D and calcium carbonate can also help in the long term.
Hearing Loss
Hearing loss can affect anyone, from babies to aging adults. Exposure to loud noises is among the most common reasons babies and older adults might have the condition. Sensorineural hearing loss, in particular, damages the inner ear over time, while mixed hearing loss happens when there are issues in the middle or outer ear and the inner ear. While some forms of hearing loss are incurable, surgery is a solution that can treat some problems associated with it. Medications and hearing aids can also bring hope to people dealing with hearing loss.
Inner Ear Affection
An inner ear infection causes irritation, inflammation, weakened hearing, and a lack of balance. Colds, flu, and infections that spread from the middle ear might cause an inner ear infection.
The two common types of inner ear infections are labyrinthitis and vestibular neuritis.
Labyrinthitis is an infection of the labyrinth, the part of the ear that controls hearing and balance, commonly caused by viral effects. Vestibular neuritis, on the other hand, is an infection of the vestibular nerve, the part of your ear that controls balance and eye movement, and develops before or alongside a viral infection. Antivirals and antibiotics can treat inner ear infections.
Tinnitus
Tinnitus, as aforementioned, refers to a ringing in your head that earwax buildup, noise exposure, ear infections, and many other causes can cause. It could also sound like clicking, pulsing, humming, or rushing. These are sounds that no one else but you can hear and can be soft and unnoticeable or seemingly loud enough to block out the sounds in your environment.
In severe cases, people might have trouble concentrating or sleeping. Tinnitus treatment depends on the cause and involves a series of hearing, blood, and imaging tests. However, tinnitus sound therapy using noise machines and in-ear noise generators can help alleviate the symptoms.
Learn More About Common Inner Ear Issues at Clarity Audiology & Hearing Solutions
Need help with your hearing? Clarity Hearing can help. Clarity Audiology & Hearing Solutions is an independently owned and operated clinic that focuses on quality of care and personalized, friendly service to the surrounding areas of Ellicott City, Catonsville, Columbia. Our Doctors of Audiology are highly trained with advanced degrees and take the time to provide the personalized care and attention that you need and deserve. We provide advanced hearing aid options that are personally calibrated with cutting-edge digital technology to fit your hearing loss, your unique ear anatomy, and your individual listening needs.
You can call us today to schedule a FREE Hearing Protection Consultation at 410-698-6594! For more blog posts, news, and updates, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and LinkedIn.