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Feeling Dizzy? Get Your Hearing Checked

Nov 13, 2014

Hearing loss is often associated with turning the TV up, asking people to repeat themselves, and straining to hear conversations in loud rooms. But did you know that feelings of dizziness could be connected to hearing loss too?

​Two Senses In One Spot

The ear is a unique organ because two senses are housed in the ear: hearing and balance. The cochlea in the inner ear is responsible for our hearing, and the labyrinth – another organ in the inner ear – is an important part of our balance system. Both the cochlea and the labyrinth are found in the same bony structure of the ear. Anything that affects one of these senses could also be affecting the other.

Inner Ear Disorders Affect Hearing And Balance

When your balance is impaired, it can cause you to feel dizzy, or feel like you’re spinning or falling. It can also cause lightheadedness and blurry vision. Chances are, if you complain to your doctor about dizziness, he or she will test not just your balance, but your hearing too. This is because some inner ear disorders can affect both your hearing and your balance.

Get A Hearing Test First

Even if you don’t think there has been a change to your hearing, but you are experiencing some dizziness, getting a hearing test is still the right course of action. A hearing test can pick up small, barely perceivable changes in your hearing – changes you may not notice yourself day-to-day. But these changes are important to know about, because they can provide clues about why you’re feeling dizzy.

Some Diseases Cause Hearing Loss And Dizziness

Meniere’s disease is a disorder that causes an imbalance in the fluid in the inner ear. This disease can lead to ​hearing lo​ss and dizziness, as well as ​tinnitus (a ringing in the ears) or the feeling of fullness in the ears. A leakage of the inner ear fluid into the middle ear can also cause both hearing loss and balance issues.

Other Causes Of Dizziness

Feelings of dizziness or light-headedness aren’t always connected to hearing. Dizziness can happen as a result of migraine headaches, infections or other illnesses. Also, an imbalance in your eye muscles will lead these muscles to overwork while they try to focus. This can also lead to feelings of dizziness.

Visit An Audiologist

If your hearing seems fine, but you’ve been having some dizziness or light-headedness, make an appointment with an ​experienced audiologist to have your hearing tested immediately. Your audiologist may just have the answers you’re looking for.

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