Dizziness is an umbrella term that describes a range of sensations, including feeling off-balance, unsteady, or lightheaded. Although some people use the terms dizziness and vertigo interchangeably, vertigo involves a false sense that you or your surroundings are moving. Dizziness and vertigo are among the top concerns that bring people to our Arizona ENT locations for evaluation and treatment by our board-certified otolaryngologists.
What causes dizziness?
Virtually all adults experience an occasional bout of dizziness. More frequent dizzy spells may indicate an underlying condition involving the inner ear, eyes, or sensory nerves. A wide range of conditions can cause dizziness or vertigo, and our ENT doctors have the specialized training to help determine if this is an otologic (ear) problem and to treat it or refer you to another specialist if it does not appear to be an otologic issue. Some potential otolaryngic causes of dizziness include:
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo: BPPV involves brief, intense bouts of vertigo. It’s triggered by changes in the position of your head, which moves tiny crystals in the semicircular canals that activate the wrong sensors and create a spinning sensation. The sensation can last seconds or minutes.
Vestibular hypofunction: This occurs when the balance centers of the inner ear are not working well, often causing a sense of being off-balance or “taking a second to catch up” when moving the head.
Middle ear problems: A middle ear infection, fluid in the middle ear, or eustachian tube dysfunction can all make people feel off balance.
Meniere’s disease: Typically confined to one ear, Meniere’s is a chronic condition which may occur when there’s an abnormal accumulation of fluid in the inner ear. It causes vertigo, tinnitus, episodes of hearing loss, and a sensation of fullness in the ear.
Labyrinthitis: Often the result of a viral infection that inflames the inner ear, this condition causes vertigo, nausea, and problems with balance. You may also experience temporary hearing loss or ringing in the ears (tinnitus).
Acoustic neuroma: Also called a vestibular schwannoma, an acoustic neuroma is a slow-growing, benign growth on a nerve associated with balance and hearing.
Superior semicircular canal dehiscence: This is a rare disorder where there is an abnormal opening in an inner ear structure.
A wide range of issues can cause dizziness, including neurological disorders, cardiovascular conditions, metabolic issues, and otologic issues. For example, patients experiencing neuropathy in the legs, a heart attack, low blood sugar, migraines, inner ear problems, or medication side effects might all experience “dizziness.”
An ENT doctor spends 4 years at college, 4 years at medical school, and then 5 to 7 years after that in a residency program specializing in otolaryngology — head and neck surgery. Our board-certified ENTs pass written and oral exams and participate in continuous education to maintain their certification. When you visit one of our Arizona locations, you can trust you're seeing one of the most qualified specialists in the region and that your care will be second to none.
Diagnosis
Because there are many potential causes of dizziness or vertigo, our experienced specialists conduct a thorough evaluation to reveal the underlying reason for your symptoms. We start by taking your medical history and discussing your specific symptoms and their duration. Diagnostic tools that our physicians may use include:
Hearing test (audiometry): An audiologist uses this test to assess how well you detect sounds at different pitches and volumes and how well you distinguish between similar-sounding words.
Vestibular testing: This may include tests such as videonystagmography (VNG), electronystagmography (ENG), or vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMP) to evaluate eye movement and assess the function of your inner ear and balance system.
Imaging tests: These can include magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) scans, which provide detailed views of the inner ear and surrounding structures.
Treatments
Once our specialists diagnose what’s causing your dizziness or vertigo, they create treatment plans that target the underlying condition.
Potential treatments include:
Repositioning maneuvers: If you’re diagnosed with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, canalith repositioning procedures (CRP) focus on moving the dislodged canaliths out of your semicircular canals. Although this helps reduce BPPV symptoms, it doesn’t work for all types of vertigo.
Physical therapy: A technique called vestibular rehabilitation uses specific exercises to help make your balance system less sensitive to motion.
Medications: Prescription drugs can provide immediate relief from vertigo, dizziness, and nausea, which often accompany those symptoms. These medications often cause drowsiness.
Water pills: People diagnosed with Meniere’s disease can combine a diuretic (water pill) with a low-salt diet to reduce the frequency of dizzy spells.
Lifestyle modifications: Dietary changes, stress management techniques, and modifications to daily activities may help reduce the frequency and severity of dizziness episodes.
Surgery: In rare cases where conservative treatments fail to provide relief, surgical intervention may be required. One type of surgery disables the vestibular labyrinth in the affected ear, enabling the other ear to take over the balance function.
If the cause isn’t otologic, we will refer you to other specialists.
Being prepared will help you get the most out of your appointment. Please bring a list of medications you're currently taking and any pertinent test results—such as labs or imaging—to your appointment. Additionally, let your provider know of any drug allergies or medical conditions you have or for which you are being treated and if you've had any prior surgical procedures.
Visit Our ENT Specialists
Our team of ear, nose, and throat specialists is committed to providing personalized care to alleviate dizziness and improve your quality of life. If you’re experiencing dizziness or related symptoms, we encourage you to schedule an appointment for a comprehensive evaluation and treatment plan.