The inner ear consists primarily of two structures, the vestibular system and the cochlea. The semicircular canals of the vestibular system function to maintain balance, and the cochlea is responsible for hearing, according to Merck Manuals Medical Library. Disorders and diseases of the inner ear can stem from the normal effects of aging, trauma, autoimmune illness or various infections.
Meniere's Disease
The National institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders describes Meniere's disease as a disorder marked by fluid buildup in the inner ear, resulting in extreme dizziness. People experience ringing sounds, called tinnitus, and a feeling of pressure in the ear. Hearing loss may occur with these episodes, and the loss usually becomes worse over time. Meniere's often only affects one ear, but some experience symptoms in both ears. The frequency and intensity of symptoms varies from person to person, and some people may have these "attacks" only occasionally. The dizziness caused by Meniere's can be severe enough to cause nausea and sweating. Increased fluid levels of the inner ear brought on by Meniere's may be caused by genetic or environmental factors, autoimmune disease or infectious agents.
Benign Positional Paroxysmal Vertigo
This inner ear problem causes sudden, intense episodes of dizziness related to certain positions of the head, the American Academy of Family Physicians reports. The disorder arises when calcium deposits in one of the inner ear canals inappropriately stimulates a nerve cell, sending incorrect information to the brain regarding true head position. Standing up from a sitting position or even a turn of the head can set off a spell of vertigo, nausea and the need to lie down. Certain head movements can reposition the calcium particles to where they no longer create symptoms.
Vestibular Neuronitis
This condition causes problems with balance and is thought to be caused by a virus that inflames the vestibular nerve. Its main symptom is an episode of severe dizziness or vertigo. The vertigo lasts from seven to 10 days and then slowly resolves. Some people can experience recurrent episodes of vertigo if the vestibular nerve has sustained permanent damage.
Acoustic Neuroma
Acoustic neuroma, also called vestibular schwannoma, is a benign tumor of a nerve that leads from the brain to the acoustic nerve, according to the Acoustic Neuroma Association. These tumors are rare, and they grow very slowly. As the tumor progresses, it can put pressure on the brain stem and cerebellum but does not actually invade brain tissue. Growth of the tumor results in either sudden or slowly progressive hearing loss. Other symptoms include ringing in the affected ear, a sense of fullness in the ear, dizziness, balance problems and numbness in the face.
