Can Hearing Loss Make You Dizzy?

Hearing loss can bring with it a number of symptoms, some of which may surprise you. You may expect to now struggle to hear family, friends, music, and television shows as your hearing starts to change. You may have even found a few ways to work around the loss of hearing you’ve been experiencing.

But you may not expect or know how to handle some of the other symptoms, such as nausea and dizziness. You may find that you’re experiencing dizziness and spinning when you move from sitting or lying down to standing. You could find that dizziness is coming on suddenly and unexpectedly.

Is it your hearing loss causing your dizziness? It can be hugely frustrating to deal with dizziness that’s impacting your life. In order to determine the best treatment solution for your dizziness, it’s important to figure out what might be behind it.

Understanding dizziness

Just what is dizziness? What you experience may vary somewhat from what others experience. Dizziness itself is not an illness or disease. It’s a symptom that can arise from other conditions or from taking certain medications. Some may experience mild confusion, while others experience more severe disorientation. A mild lightheaded sensation may be common to one person while other experiences a much more severe sensation known as vertigo where everything appears to be whirling. Those who have hearing loss sometimes describe their dizziness as a feeling of being unsteady or unable to keep their balance.

Dizziness types

If you’re experiencing dizziness, how do you know if your inner ear is causing the dizziness? It can help to understand a bit more about the inner ear and how it can impact other areas of your body. 

Your inner ear has two chambers. 

•     One is for balance and is known as the vestibule. 
•     One is for hearing and is known as the cochlea. 

Each chamber contains nerve endings that are suspended in a fluid. When the fluid moves, nerve impulses travel to the brain. If, for some reason, there are changes in circulation or pressure in the fluid, it can result in dizziness.

Most cases of dizziness are due to conditions that are related to the ear. Some of these conditions could include ear infections, trauma to the head or ear, Meniere’s disease, or other concerns that result in inner ear inflammation. In some situations, those who have dizziness may have what is known as central dizziness. Central dizziness happens when the brain is unable to interpret the nerve impulses that it’s getting. Some who experience central dizziness often describe it as feeling fullness or pressure in the head, while others feel extreme tiredness or vertigo.

If you’ve been experiencing some hearing loss and dizziness, it is quite possible that there is a strong connection between the two.

Unexpected symptoms of hearing loss

You know that being unable to hear things as well as you once could is a sign that you’re experiencing hearing loss. But you may be surprised at some of the other symptoms of hearing loss, one of which is often dizziness associated with the inner ear. There are three symptoms of hearing loss that you could have, including the following.

•     Nausea and vomiting
•     Lack of coordination
•     Loss of balance

You may experience a number of other symptoms that could be related to your hearing loss, some of which may surprise you when you notice them. Hearing loss can happen suddenly, but it quite often develops gradually for most people, of all ages. The exception would be if there has been any type of related trauma to the head or ear. Did you suddenly get dizzy and lose hearing? While any type of hearing loss and ongoing dizziness should be a sign that you need to be seen by a medical professional, sudden dizziness and hearing loss should have you making an appointment as soon as possible. There are several medical conditions that could be responsible for both dizziness and hearing loss, including Meniere’s disease.

Diagnosing dizziness

There are any number of underlying concerns that could be causing dizziness so it’s important to undergo a thorough evaluation that will help to determine the source of symptoms. Your doctor will first take steps to rule out any serious issues before moving on to tests that can help to pinpoint the problem’s location. After a physical examination, doctors may take the next steps that include the following.

•     Blood tests
•     X-rays
•     Eye exams
•     Ear exams
•     Hearing tests
•     Balance tests

If your doctor is able to pinpoint your inner ear and hearing loss as a contributing factor to your dizziness, you’ll have a path forward for a treatment plan. Your treatment options will be based on factors unique to you, including the reason for your hearing loss and the types of symptoms that you’ve been experiencing.

Treatment for hearing loss and dizziness

There are a few options for treating dizziness, including surgery, medication, and rehabilitation. However, when the dizziness is being caused by hearing loss the treatment plan may look a little bit different. Medications that can address related nausea may be prescribed as a first-round treatment for many. Nausea can take a huge toll on your quality of life so it’s important that it’s addressed if you’re struggling with it. Steroids, diuretics, and other types of medications may be prescribed to help address the dizziness and some of the other symptoms of hearing loss.

Surgical solutions have been seen to help improve some of the symptoms of Meniere’s disease but typically will not improve the loss of hearing. Your doctor will be able to provide you guidance about the best course of treatment to help your particular condition. One of the options for many with hearing loss is hearing aids.

Can hearing aids help to address your dizziness? There is some evidence that points to hearing aids being of great help to those who are struggling with dizziness as a result of hearing loss. If you are a good candidate for a hearing aid, you may find that some of your symptoms of hearing loss ease over time.

Are you or a loved one struggling with hearing loss? Perhaps you’ve started to experience some of the symptoms of hearing loss, such as ringing in your ears or dizziness? Reach out to find out more about how we can help.