Can hearing affect your balance?
Planning a Conservatory
March 5, 2025The Process of Moving House
March 13, 2025Our ears carry a lot of responsibility. Hearing allows us not only to listen to music or television, but also to communicate with people around us and to listen for signs of danger, such as a car coming.
Ears aren’t just for hearing
But did you know that our ears also play an important role in helping us to keep our balance? The inner ear is a labyrinth, consisting of bone and tissue. The canals contained within this are what contribute to us keeping our balance. They can sense different types of movements – for example, side to side movements or when we move up and down. This system allows us to have a very good awareness of where we are in any given space – for example, our ears help us to recognise when we are in a moving vehicle, a lift that’s going up or down, or even if we are falling.
Unfortunately, if a problem occurs within these delicate ear canals, the result can be a loss of balance or even a fall. This is sometimes known as vertigo, which makes sufferers feel off balance, queasy or dizzy.
When does this happen?
These problems can occur when our ear is damaged in some way. This can be something as simple as an ear infection. More severe causes include labyrinthitis, a perilymph fistula which can occur after a head injury according to the RNID.
What should I do if I suspect a problem?
If you have been experiencing any of the symptoms of vertigo, or any other problem to do with the ears, such as muffled hearing, tinnitus or a blockage in the ear, the best thing to do is to go for a hearing test Bristol or your nearest location, with an audiologist such as www.imperialhearing.com/audiologist-near-me/bristol/.
Audiologists can conduct a comprehensive but painless hearing check. This will check for any blockages within the inner ear, test your hearing strength, and make any recommendations for treatments if necessary.
