Diagnosing Dizziness and Hearing Issues

Diagnosing Dizziness and Hearing Issues

Patients receiving dizziness and hearing care at UChicago Medicine have access to our specialists’ vast experience treating dizziness, including inner ear disturbances, neurological conditions such as migraine, as well as dizziness from underlying medical conditions and medication side effects.

Our dizziness team combines depth of knowledge and state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment to diagnose hearing and balance issues accurately. Non-surgical treatment options can often help patients manage symptoms and improve outcomes. Expert surgical management is also available if necessary.

Common Causes of Dizziness and Balance Issues

The following are some of the most common causes associated with dizziness and hearing disorders:

• Inner ear problems: The inner ear plays a crucial role in maintaining balance. Inner ear disorders such as BPPV (ear crystals), Ménière's disease, vestibular neuritis and labyrinthitis can cause dizziness and balance problems.
• Neurological disorders: Conditions such as Migraine, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis and stroke can affect the part of the brain that controls balance and coordination.
• Vision problems: Poor vision, especially where there is a mismatch in focus between two eyes, can cause balance problems.
• Sensory loss: Balance can deteriorate when one cannot feel one’s feet.
• Cardiovascular conditions: Heart disease, low blood pressure and arrhythmias can cause dizziness and fainting.
• Psychological issues: Some dizziness, such as PPPD, is “functional” and attributed to inappropriate adaptations to previous dizziness, even after the cause of the condition is gone.
• Medication: Certain medications – like blood pressure medications, sedatives and antidepressants – can cause dizziness problems as a side effect.