Balance Disorder Basics

Though it may not be immediately obvious, balance disorders are commonly linked to your ear, nose and throat (ENT) health. They are among some of the most common reasons to seek treatment and your ENT doctor might be the one best suited to help you find, diagnose and treat the causes.

Here, we’re going to look at the different balance disorders out there, their symptoms, how they are treated and when you should look to your ENT doctor from Mountain Ear, Nose & Throat Associates for help.

Causes and types of balance disorders

There are four common balance disorders that account for the vast majority of cases. They include the following:

• BPPV (Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo): This condition is most commonly characterized by feelings of spinning or moving (vertigo) when your head is in certain positions. It’s caused by small calcium crystals in the inner ear, pressing against and disrupting the nerves that help the body understand position and balance.
• Labyrinthitis: An infection of the inner ear. The inflammation resulting from the infection affects the labyrinth, a delicate structure inside the ear and affects your hearing and balance as a result.
• Neuronitis (vestibular neuritis): An infection of the vestibular nerve, found in the inner ear. Inflammation of this nerve causes your sense of balance to become disrupted.
• Meniere’s disease: The rarest of the four most common balance disorders, believed to be caused by changes in the fluids in the tubes of the inner ear. It’s a chronic condition that most commonly affects one ear, only and can cause vertigo, hearing loss and tinnitus. While there is no known cure, the symptoms of Meniere’s disease can be treated and managed.

All majors causes of balance disorders are rooted in the ear. With a thorough examination, your ENT doctor can help you find the diagnosis causing your issue and provide the treatment that can offer some relief.

Symptoms of balance disorders

So, when should you see your ENT doctor for the diagnosis and treatment of a balance disorder? As you might expect, vertigo, the sensation of spinning, rocking or moving when you are still, is the most common symptom associated with them. But it’s not the only one. Here are a few more symptoms you should keep an eye out for:

• Feeling as if you are falling or going to fall
• Confusion or disorientation
• Staggering when you attempt to walk
• Blurred vision
• Faintness and lightheadedness
• Commonly experiencing a floating sensation
• Nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhea

If you experience any combination of the symptoms above, there’s a good chance you’re dealing with a balance disorder. Make an appointment with your ENT doctor today to find the cause and start treating it.

How your ENT doctor can help

To help alleviate any concerns of balance issues, your ENT doctor will first carry out a range of tests and examinations to narrow down the potential causes. These may include hearing tests, posturography tests to see which parts of the balance system are being affected and imaging tests like an MRI or CT scan. There are many different variables that can contribute to or highlight specific issues, so the tests recommended to you will be individualized to get as complete a picture of your health as possible.

Following the tests, the ENT doctor will provide a diagnosis of one of the four main balance disorders (if you suffer from any, that is) and will next recommend a course of treatment. Some common balance disorder treatments include the following:

• Medications: Drugs may be prescribed to not only combat the effects of vertigo, such as dizziness and nausea but may also be used to treat infections in the ear.
• Positioning procedures: These are most commonly used in the case of BPPV. This is a series of careful head maneuvers that are designed to dislodge the calcium crystals from their position in the inner ear and to move them to an area where they don’t affect your balance.
• Balance retraining exercise: Also known as vestibular rehabilitation, this is a program of exercises and movements for balance retraining to help you adapt to changes in balance. It may also involve the use of a cane to help maintain balance.
• Lifestyle changes: In the cases of Meniere’s disease, changes to diet and exercise can help ease symptoms.

If you believe you suffer from any of the balance disorders mentioned above, experience the listed symptoms or have already been diagnosed but haven’t been able to find effective treatment, your ENT doctor can help. Call Mountain Ear, Nose & Throat Associates today and we can arrange a consultation to help you regain some balance in your life. You can reach us at one of our following offices:

• Sylva: (828) 586-7474
• Franklin: (828) 524-5599
• Murphy: (828) 835-1014
• New Asheville: (828) 458-8100