Vertigo and hearing loss are two different conditions many people do not think are closely related.
Hearing loss, from the name itself, is the loss of your hearing senses. Hearing loss may either be permanent or just temporary. Hearing loss does not necessarily equate to deafness.
On the other hand, vertigo is the spinning sensation you feel after moving your head so fast.
However, both conditions are impacted by the loss of function in the ears.
So are they connected?
Can hearing loss cause vertigo? Or is it the other way around? Or maybe there is no connection at all?
Below, find an overview of the relationship between hearing loss and vertigo, so you know if there is a link between the two or not.
Can Hearing Loss Cause Vertigo?
Hearing loss has not been proven to cause vertigo. But that is not to say that hearing loss and vertigo are not connected, nor are they not associated with one another.
Although hearing loss does not cause vertigo, it does not mean you cannot experience it during hearing loss. In fact, because hearing loss and vertigo are both conditions impacting the ear, there is a chance of experiencing vertigo during hearing loss.
Vertigo And Hearing Loss Connection
But how exactly are hearing loss and vertigo connected? Well, it has something to do with the balance system (or vestibular system) in our inner ears. The cochlea is also located in the inner ear.
The cochlea is where the hearing nerve is located. And the balance system is near the cochlea. So, damage to the inner ear would cause not only hearing loss but also vertigo.
That is the reason why you would often experience vertigo when you experience inner ear hearing loss. And that is how inner ear hearing loss and vertigo are connected.
Meniere’s Disease
A condition known as Meniere’s disease can lead to both vertigo and hearing loss. It is an ear condition that can affect both the inner ear and the vestibular system.
Meniere’s disease causes fluid accumulation in the inner ear. As a result, the Corti, which is a part of the cochlea, becomes swollen, thus leading to feelings of fullness, dizziness, and hearing loss.
This condition can occur in people of any age. But most of the time, it affects young people up to middle-aged adults.
Symptoms of Meniere’s disease include more than just vertigo and hearing loss. It can also cause tinnitus, or the ringing of the ear, as well as the feeling of fullness in the affected ear.
Meniere’s disease usually only affects one ear. There is no clear cause as to why the endolymph or the fluid in the inner ear accumulates.
Meniere’s disease is considered a chronic condition. However, even though that is the case, there are treatments that can help relieve its symptoms and minimize the long-term impact on the patient’s life.
Although hearing loss does not necessarily cause vertigo, it can occur at the same time, especially if you have Meniere’s disease.