The inner ear is important because it is responsible for both hearing and balance. The ear has three main parts. The outer ear directs sound waves towards the inner ear, where the eardrum vibrates. The vibrations go through the ossicles, which are three tiny bones in the middle ear. These vibrations then travel to the inner ear, which is a small organ shaped like a snail that sends nerve impulses to the brain where the sound is interpreted. Balance is also controlled by the inner ear. Diseases and disorders may cause the inner ear to be damaged.
Meniere's Disease
Meniere's disease is a condition that can cause vertigo, ringing in the ear, fullness or pressure in the ear, and fluctuating hearing loss, according to the American Hearing Research Foundation. The semicircular canals and the cochlea are affected in this disease. An attack starts with fullness in one ear, hearing fluctuations, or ringing in the ears. Severe vertigo, loss of balance, nausea, and vomiting are all common symptoms.
According to the American Hearing Research Foundation, males and females are equally likely to develop this disorder, and it usually affects people over the age of 40. Attacks may come in clusters, with several years between Meniere's episodes.
Presbycusis
According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, presbycusis is defined as a gradual loss of hearing as an individual ages. This disorder affects approximately 30 to 35 percent of adults between 65 and 75 years of age. Sounds higher in pitch are generally the first to be lost. This can result from complex changes along nerve pathways or changes inside the ear.
Tinnitus
Tinnitus is defined as noise or ringing in the ears by the Mayo Clinic. It is a very common ailment, one that affects about one in every five people. This is usually a symptom of an underlying condition. It can be caused by damage to the inner cells of the ears where tiny hairs that move in relation to sound waves are broken or bent. Meiere's disease may cause tinnitus. Other causes may include blockage of the inner ear, changes in ear bones, stress, depression, head or neck injuries, tumors on the cranial nerve, blood pressure irregularities, and some medications.
Pendred Syndrome
Pendred syndrome is defined by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders as a genetic disorder that leads to hearing loss in young children. Hearing may be lost at birth or by age three. Diagnosis includes a careful examination of the inner ear using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CAT) scans. If the cochlea has too few turns or if the vestibular aqueducts are enlarged, this may be a symptom of Pendred syndrome.
