Vertigo... What's It All About?
By Monica Mason, MA, CCC-A

As an audiologist, I see a lot of patients who experience dizziness. For some, their dizziness is described as lightheadedness, but for others, it is said to be a spinning sensation. What these patients are experiencing is vertigo, and it can be a frightening experience. Vertigo is the feeling that you or your surroundings are spinning, when in reality you are motionless. Vertigo is a symptom, not a disease, and although there are various medical conditions that have this as a symptom, the most common cause is an inner ear disorder.

In my experience, the most common inner ear disorders with vertigo as a symptom are Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV), Meniere's disease, and Labyrinthitis. With BPPV, a sudden attack of vertigo occurs when you move into a specific position, such as rolling over in bed or looking up. The movement causes crystals, which have become dislodged, to move about the canals in your inner ear. Treatment consists of a repositioning movement and/or vestibular exercises that can be performed by an audiologist or physical therapist.

In the case of Meniere's disease, there is a build-up of fluid in the inner ear that causes episodic vertigo attacks. Related symptoms are fluctuating hearing loss, tinnitus, and a fullness feeling in the ear(s). Treatment options include medication and/or surgery.

Labyrinthitis is caused by an infection, usually the result of a middle ear infection or meningitis. If the infection is severe enough, it can result in permanent to complete loss of hearing and balance function. Individuals suffering from Labyrinthitis are treated with medication.

The frequency and duration of a vertigo attack will depend on the origin of the problem. An attack can occur on an hourly up to a monthly basis and can last for a few seconds up to a few days. Some people may even experience it for years before they receive the help they need. The intensity of a vertigo attack is purely subjective and can affect any age group.

Vertigo is the third most commonly reported complaint to physicians. Physicians make their diagnosis based on the patient's description of symptoms. Vertigo can be classified into two categories: peripheral (ear) and central (brain). If peripheral vertigo is suspected, the physician may order a hearing evaluation and a balance test. If central vertigo is suspected, then the physician may order a computed tomography (CT) scan or a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain.

There is no way to prevent the first vertigo attack, but it is possible to prevent future attacks by seeking treatment. If you are experiencing persistent vertigo, contact your family physician. Also, there is an increased risk for imbalance and falls if you have vertigo. Therefore, it's important to not put yourself in a position where you could get seriously hurt if you fell.

Monica Mason is an audiologist at North Canton Medical Foundation and has years of experience in hearing and balance testing. She is certified by the Ohio Board of Speech Pathology & Audiology as well as the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. If you have any questions or concerns, please call our Center for Hearing and Balance at 330-433-1450.