Neuro-otology focuses on the inner ear and its connections in the brain. On the clinical side we evaluate patients with dizziness, imbalance, hearing loss and tinnitus.
There are two main types of vertigo:
Peripheral vertigo This happens when there’s a problem with the inner ear
Central vertigo This occurs when there’s an issue with the brain. Causes can include infection, brain tumors, traumatic brain injury or stroke.
Vertigo attacks can happen at any age, but they’re more common in people over 65. Women are somewhat more likely to experience vertigo than men. Some people experience vertigo as a side effect of pregnancy.
On average, vertigo attacks last several seconds to several minutes. In severe cases, however, people can experience vertigo for hours, days, weeks or even months.
A number of syndromes or conditions can result in vertigo. These include:
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV): The most common cause of vertigo, BPPV is typically triggered by changed in your head’s position. People with BPPV often experience vertigo when lying down, sitting up or turning over in bed
Meniere’s disease: This condition causes fluids to build up inside the ear, leading to vertigo attacks. Meniere’s disease may also be accompanied by tinnitus (ringing in the ears), fluctuating hearing loss or a feeling a fullness in the ears
Labyrinthitis: If the inner ear labyrinth becomes inflamed or infected, it’s called labyrinthitis. The ear labyrinth houses the vestibulocochlear nerve, which transmits information to the brain regarding sound, position and head motion. People with labyrinthitis often experience headaches, ear pain, vision changes, tinnitus or hearing loss
Vestibular neuritis: This inflammation of the vestibular nerve can cause vertigo. Vestibular neuritis is similar to labyrinthitis, but it doesn’t alter your hearing. People with this condition may experience vertigo and nausea or blurred vision
Cholesteatoma: Repeated ear infections can cause a noncancerous skin growth to develop in the middle ear. This condition is referred to as cholesteatoma, and it can lead to dizziness, vertigo and hearing loss.
There are other factors that can lead to vertigo attacks. Here are some common vertigo causes:
Migraine headaches
Certain medications
Stroke
Arrhythmia
Diabetes
Head injuries
Prolonged bed rest
Diabetes Shingles in or near the ear
DiabetesEar surgery
Ataxia, or muscle weakness
Brain disease
Otosclerosis (a bone growth problem affecting the middle ear).
Nausea and vomiting
Balance problems
Tinnitus
Headaches
Motion sickness
A feeling of fullness in the ear
Nystagmus, in which the eyes move side to side uncontrollably