The inner ear, located inside the temporal bone, is responsible for sound transmission, equilibrium and spatial orientation. Problems within the inner ear can result in poor balance, dizziness, nausea and tinnitus, or ringing in the ears. Living with chronic inner ear disease can be difficult. Many inner ear diseases have similar symptoms, which can make diagnosis challenging.
Meniere's Disease
Meniere’s disease is thought to be caused by fluid accumulation in the inner ear. There are four symptoms of Meniere’s disease: vertigo, a sense that the room is spinning; hearing loss; tinnitus, or ringing in the ear; and a feeling of fullness in the ear. Meniere’s usually affects just one ear; although, both can be affected. Symptoms of Meniere’s are not constant; they occur in attacks that last 20 minutes to two hours and may occur often or infrequently, the American Academy of Family Physicians states. Decreasing fluid retention by cutting down on salt and taking diuretics may help control Meniere’s. Medications to decrease nausea and dizziness may be prescribed; some cause drowsiness.
Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo
A buildup of calcium particles inside the semicircular canals in the inner ear related to aging causes a type of vertigo known as benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, or BPPV. Crystals found in the otoliths, small stones that help detect movement, are dislodged and move into the semicircular canals, especially when people change position or lie down, according to the Mayo Clinic. Symptoms of BPPV, which include dizziness, unsteadiness, blurred vision and nausea, usually last just a minute or so. Treatment for BPPV may consist of repositioning exercises to move the crystals back into the vestibule of the inner ear, where they belong. Surgery to block the entrance to the semicircular canals may also be tried.
Labyrinthitis and Vestibular Neuritis
Labyrinthitis and vestibular neuritis are infections of the inner ear that often also affect the eighth cranial nerve, which connects the brain and inner ear. Unlike middle ear infections, inner ear infections usually cause dizziness and vertigo, rather than pain. Nausea, vomiting, poor balance, incoordination and hearing loss may also occur. The symptoms of labyrinthitis may make it difficult for a person to stand up without falling over, the Vestibular Disorders Association states. Labyrinthitis is usually caused by a virus, but it may also occur as part of a systemic illness, such as mononucleosis. Treatment is aimed at decreasing symptoms, which may last several weeks. In some people, permanent hearing loss or vertigo may occur.
Vestibular neuritis also affects the eighth cranial nerve and has many of the same symptoms of labyrinthitis, but it does not cause hearing loss.
Autoimmune Inner Ear Disease
Autoimmune inner ear disease (AIED) is caused by the immune system attacking the inner ear cells. The symptoms of AIED are a sudden loss of hearing, a feeling of fullness in the ear, tinnitus and vertigo. AIED is a rare disease that is treated with drugs that reduce inflammation and suppress the immune system, like corticosteroids.
