Balance

[Neolithic]

Does T cause problems with balance

[Happyrosie]

hmmmm that’s a hard one …. If you have ear problems like wax, then you might have vertigo, and again wax sometimes worsens or initiates vertigo. Sometimes they go hand in hand.

You might find guidance within Tinnitus UK website.

[perlcoder]

As far as I know, it is not a common problem, unless you have a diagnosis of Ménière disease which includes your T. On the other hand, personal experience and the opinion of my Consultant on a different disease, suggest that it can happen. My T is predominantly in one ear and my guess is that the disparity between the ears may create / exacerbate balance issues.

I may be more than usually wrong - but take it for what it is worth.

[Crazylady6]

I have balance problems and also T. My balance is worse if my pulsatile T has been triggered. (Usually through stress). However the balance problems have been linked to my hearing as I am HoH. I have a conduction called Otosclerosis and as a result have hearing and balance problems. How is your hearing? Have you had it checked recently? When my balance become really bad then I know I have to rest. Sorry I can’t be more help.

[HarveysBeer]

I can concur with Crazylady6. I am currently have a seriously loud bout of pulsating Tinnitus and having some minor balance issues. I was diagnosed with Meniere’s in 1983 and had Tinnitus since and about 6 serious bouts of balance issues needing a lot of rest. I also concur it was bought on by stress - not mental stress in my case but the body being physically stressed with illness. The bouts of vertigo do get easier over time as if the body is learning to cope. I have also undertaken some ‘dizzy training’ for the brain which may be keeping the full effect of vertigo at bay on this occasion. I also take Buccastem when needed to help stem the vomiting. The bouts of dizziness are very debilitating so hope it doesn’t develop in your case. Good luck.

[Castlekeep in reply to HarveysBeer]

what is ‘dizzy training’

[HarveysBeer in reply to Castlekeep]

Hi. It was a self administered series of simple movements with head and eyes that induces some dizziness and allows the brain to recognise and correct how you then cope with the effect. I suppose it’s a bit like self administered CBT. I was introduced to it via the Meniere’s Society, who are a similar group to Tinnitus UK. It was a free booklet for members. It is done over time and you assess how effective it is for you by a simple scoring system although it is not by nature purely objective. The whole idea being that when a vertigo bout begins the brain can take some corrective action to lesson the effects. How objectively successful it is, I don’t really know, but for me it may well have helped as I have not been seriously dizzy with this episode of loud Tinnitus. I have felt vertigo coming on but it has not taken hold and I have stayed vertical!

[TinnitusUKPat Partner]

I think the cause and effect are potentially the other way round - where tinnitus is present, there is a possibility that one of the balance-related (audiovestibular) disorders is causing it. Problems affecting the inner ear can also result in problems with hearing or symptoms like tinnitus.

As suggested by PerlCoder, conditions like Meniere's Disease, at one end of the spectrum are possible, as are issues like labyrinthitis. The Meniere's Society has a lot of information about conditions which can affect balance and may also have tinnitus associated with them - menieres.org.uk/information....

There is a dedicated resource for people looking for a doctor who specializes in these conditions - baap.org.uk, the British Association of Audiovestibular Physicians.