ear balance and dizziness
Treating Ear And Balance Conditions in Metro Richmond
Are you experiencing dizziness, persistent ear aches or just not hearing as well as you used to? If your symptoms do not go away on their own after a couple of days, we’re here to help. Our comprehensive ear services have everything you need to get to the bottom of your ear, balance and dizziness problems
Vertigo and inner ear problems
Feeling dizzy, woozy and faint can be attributed to a variety of conditions. Frequent sudden periods of dizziness that last for an extended period of time can be an indicator of an inner ear problem called vertigo. People with vertigo feel like the room is spinning and tilting off-balance. Vertigo occurs when the sensory nerves and the brain are not communicating properly. It can be triggered by migraines, infections and inner-ear and vestibular conditions such as Meniere’s disease and Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV).
treating vertigo
At Virginia Ear Nose and Throat, we recommend multiple therapies, or even a combination of therapies, to treat vertigo. First, our provider will evaluate your symptoms and discuss your medical history. You may also need to undergo hearing testing, balance testing, and radiographic imaging to investigate the underlying cause of your vertigo. The results of this examination will help determine the most effective treatment plan for you. Balance therapies include physical therapy focused on balance, including assessment of fall risk, ambulation assistance and hearing rehabilitation. The goal of these therapies is to prevent personal injury and to restore balance by readjusting your body and brain to movement.
If therapy does not improve your symptoms or if your provider thinks dizziness is an indicator of a more serious problem, your provider may provide a referral for further cardiovascular, brain and neck evaluation.
symptoms and causes of earaches
Ear pain is an indicator of many body conditions, including issues of the ear, mouth, nose, or throat. A common cause of earaches is when the eustachian tubes, which run fluid from inside of the ear to the back of the nose and throat, stop draining properly. When this occurs, pressure and fluid build up, causing ear pain. Conditions that are attributed to swollen eustachian tubes that are not functioning properly include:
Other causes of ear pain include issues of the eardrum, which can be perforated or broken. A perforated eardrum refers to a tear in the tissue of the eardrum. Broken and perforated eardrums can lead to permanent hearing loss and should not be left untreated. They are caused by loud noises, trauma or injury, ear infections or even using cotton swabs or other objects to clean the ears. In cases of a sudden loud noise, a ruptured eardrum can be physically identified by a sudden sharp pain in the ear. Other symptoms include:
Treating Earaches
If you’re experiencing acute or chronic ear pain, your Virginia Ear Nose and Throat provider will examine your ear and talk through your symptoms. Your provider may order a CT scan using our in-office MiniCat Scanner to get a better look inside your ear. Once our team determines the cause of your infection, your provider will have a better idea of what kind of treatment to pursue. For example, if your provider identifies your ear pain as a problem with the eustachian tubes, the problem may result on its own. Regardless, the provider may recommend taking a decongestant to relieve symptoms. Treatment options for ruptured or broken eardrums include ear drops, an eardrum patch or in some cases, surgery.
