Vertigo (Dizziness)
Vertigo may be summarized as losing spatial orientation. Patients feel like the world is spinning, the ground is shifting although these are not true. Body balance and eye coordination get lost, and inner ear and brain (vestibular system) lose their ability to function properly.
Most common type is benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). There are also Labyrinthitis and vestibular neuritis, and all of them are benign. Nausea, vomiting and tinnitus may accompany the symptoms.
The most severe case is Meniere’s disease. In this one, hearing loss is inevitable.
Vertigo is rarely related to infections on vestibular system, tumors and vascular diseases. In most cases it is benign, and ear and brain scans of patients come clean.
80% of elderly and 35% of middle-aged people have experienced vertigo at least once in their life time.
Tinnitus (Ringing in the Ears)
Tinnitus is hearing disturbing noises like ringing, buzzing, roaring, clicking, whistling, hissing etc. when actually, no such thing exists. Patient may hear them in just one or both ears, or even in their brain. This is a quite common condition. 1 in 22 people have it.
In long-term, tinnitus may cause depression, anxiety, sleep deprivation, loss of concentration etc.
Usually, tinnitus patients appear to be having an acoustic trauma (i.e. being exposed to loud noises). Working with guns or loud devices, or listening to loud music have negative effects on patients.