Can Hearing Aids Help Reduce Vertigo Symptoms?

Millions of people experience and seek treatment for vertigo and balance issues each year. For many, this disrupts their active lifestyle and is very debilitating. For others, it is more of a nuisance. If your inner ear is the problem, then you may be able to get help by going to your audiologist to purchase prescription hearing aids.

Vertigo Symptoms

When you experience vertigo, you may feel like you are:

• Spinning (or the room is spinning around you)
• Tilting or swaying
• Off balance

These sensations can last for a few seconds, minutes, or days. They can come and go, or you may feel worse if you move your head in a certain way. You can experience this if you change position from standing to sitting, cough, or sneeze. Depending on what causes vertigo, you might experience other symptoms like:

• Nausea or vomiting
• Sensitivity to light or headaches
• Trouble swallowing, weakness, talking, or seeing double vision
• A racing heartbeat, shortness of breath, or sweating

If you are experiencing symptoms of vertigo, you will need to visit your healthcare provider. Be sure to write a description of your symptoms, how long they last, the triggers, or other problems you are having. These notes will help your medical professional determine the cause and provide you with a treatment plan.

There are several methods available to treat vertigo. Some people try home remedies like herbal supplements, and essential oils, and take better care of their bodies by eating healthier and drinking lots of water.

It is important that you visit your health provider for a diagnosis to ensure that vertigo you are experiencing isn’t life-threatening or a symptom of another issue. Your medical doctor might prescribe you medicine like antibiotics or place you on a low-salt diet to help your vertigo. They may refer you to an audiologist to determine if you are experiencing Menieres’ disease or damage to your inner ear. An audiologist may prescribe hearing aids to help with your vertigo.

Vertigo and the inner ear

Vertigo is a circumstance that affects your sense of equilibrium and balance. It can cause you to feel off balance or understanding. You can also experience a spinning sensation or movement when you are standing still. There are multiple causes of vertigo including inner ear issues, head injuries, and other medical conditions. Your inner ear works to support a sense of balance and hearing. If it becomes damaged, it can lead to multiple problems.

 Hearing and inner ear functions are your balance centers. They work to ensure you stay stable when standing, sitting, or walking. Your ear collects sound waves and translates them into electrical signals that your brain interprets. These signals help users understand where sounds are coming from and the distance of the noise.  

 The hearing process allows us to interpret the volume, pitch, and timbre of a sound in order to determine the direction of the sound. We then can decide how to interact with the sounds, like turning to talk to another person or hearing the direction a siren is heading, so we can pull off the road if necessary.

The brain can create a mental picture of our surroundings, so we maintain balance when walking or standing. If there is interference with the signals sent from the outer ear to the inner ear, it can lead to difficulty with coordination and balance. You might experience vertigo when this happens.

Hearing aids work to improve balance

If you are experiencing problems with your balance, you may experience be experiencing hearing loss. This is because the brain has to work harder to make sense of the messages from the ear and struggles to keep your sense of balance normalized.

Hearing aids improve your balance by making it easier for your ear to send the right message to the brain so you can hear what is going on around you. Your brain doesn’t have to work as hard to keep you stable. Therefore, making it easier for you to feel balanced when walking or standing.

Hearing specialists prescribe hearing aids to people with vertigo since these devices amplify sounds and improve sensory input for the brain to interpret and create a stable environment. This is especially helpful for people with severe or chronic vertigo. The hearing becomes balanced, creating a stronger sense of stability when moving.

If you are experiencing vertigo because of hearing loss, contact Hearing Associates of Las Vegas for a diagnosis and treatment plan. We will help you each step of the way to improve your hearing and balance.