Balance problems in elderly adults are common but not inevitable. They happen because several systems that keep you steady (inner ear, vision, muscle strength, nerve function, and cognitive resources) decline with age. Most of those changes can be identified, managed, and partly reversed with the right combination of screening, exercise, hearing care, and medical management. […]
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Your inner ear balance system is a microscopic set of fluid-filled chambers and sensors that track every movement of your head and tell your brain which way is up. When it works, you don’t notice it. When it breaks down, you feel it as dizziness, vertigo, or unsteadiness, and understanding how the system functions is […]
Read More… from How Your Inner Ear Controls Balance: What Happens When It Doesn’t
Dizziness is a general term for feeling unsteady, lightheaded, or off-balance. Vertigo is a specific type of dizziness in which you feel like you or the room is spinning or moving when nothing actually is. The distinction matters because dizziness has many possible causes (low blood pressure, medication side effects, dehydration, anxiety), while vertigo almost […]
Read More… from Dizziness vs. Vertigo: What’s the Difference and What Causes Each?
Meniere’s disease is a chronic inner ear disorder that causes episodes of severe vertigo, fluctuating hearing loss, tinnitus (ringing in the ear), and a feeling of fullness or pressure in one ear. Episodes typically last 20 minutes to several hours and can recur over months or years. While there’s no cure, a combination of diagnostic […]
Read More… from Meniere’s Disease: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and What to Expect
You should see an audiologist for dizziness when your symptoms are recurring, triggered by head movements, accompanied by hearing changes or tinnitus, or making you feel unsteady enough to worry about falling. An audiologist with vestibular training can test your inner ear directly and determine whether your symptoms are coming from the balance organs or […]
Read More… from When Should You See an Audiologist for Dizziness or Balance Issues?
BPPV (benign paroxysmal positional vertigo) is the most common cause of vertigo, caused by tiny calcium carbonate crystals that have become dislodged and drifted into one of the semicircular canals of your inner ear. When those loose crystals shift with head movement, they send false motion signals to your brain, producing brief but intense spinning. […]
Read More… from BPPV: What Causes That Sudden Spinning Feeling?
A vestibular evaluation is a set of painless, noninvasive tests that measure how well your inner ear and brain work together to keep you balanced. You may need one if you experience dizziness, vertigo, unsteadiness, recurring falls, or a spinning sensation triggered by head or body movements. The appointment typically runs at least 90 minutes […]
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If you’re hearing ringing, buzzing, or humming that no one else can hear, you’re not alone. Tinnitus affects millions of people, and finding tinnitus relief starts with understanding what you’re experiencing and knowing that effective help is available. You don’t have to learn to live with the noise. At Northwest Speech and Hearing Center in […]
The holidays are a time for joyful gatherings, festive celebrations, and memorable music. But if you are one of the many people living with tinnitus or hearing loss symptoms, these loud events can also bring anxiety and discomfort. At Northwest Speech and Hearing Center, your comfort and hearing health are always our top priority. By […]
Read More… from Protecting Your Ears in Noisy Holiday Environments
