Hearing Center - Help For Your Balance Problems

Is it possible for a hearing center to hold the solution to your balance problems? While it does not always fix the problem, it is a great place to start. The ear is more than just a receptacle for the sounds that you hear around you. The inner ear has three different canals that help detect the movement of the head. While this may not seem that significant, if there is a severe problem in this area, it could prevent you from walking across the room without losing your balance or feeling dizzy.

- What does the ear have to do with balance?

Any hearing center professional can talk to you about the relationship between your inner ear and your personal balance. Those canals within the inner ear are angled so that they are constantly detecting how you are moving and where you are in relation to your body. The different canals have different jobs, including checking your up and down movements and your side to side movements. All of these canals sense when you move and send impulses to your brain to let you know where you are and how your body is balanced. When something goes wrong, you can easily lose your balance or feel a lack of confidence when walking around.

Your internal balance starts with your ears and if you are having difficulty with what you hear, it could cause problems with balance. Sometimes the diagnosis is vertigo while other times a doctor will look into other options. Because there are some medical conditions that affect balance, your doctor will probably want to make a diagnosis before just sending you to a hearing center.

- Is it worth telling the audiologist?

The more information that your hearing center professional has, the more likely it is that he or she will be able to properly diagnose and treat your problem. All details, including your lack of balance or the feeling of being dizzy is important and needs to be taken into consideration when helping you find a solution. When you discuss your medical history you fill out the background paperwork, make sure to put down any balance issues that you have. The audiologist may suggest that you talk to your doctor after the assessment to get more information if you have not made the appointment already.

- Are hearing aids going to fix all balance problems?

The equipment generally found with an audiologist is not always the solution to your balance problem. While it can improve your ability to hear, it may not be able to change your balance or the dizzy feeling that you sometimes have. Don't go into your appointment assuming that this is the solution. That may not be the case, and you do not want to be disappointed.