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Hearing & Balance

Disorders of the ear can affect hearing & balance . Some ear disorders cause slow changes over time in your ability to hear or keep your balance, while other disorders cause sudden symptoms such as hearing loss, dizziness, ringing, or pain. Hearing loss and balance problems can affect your ability to connect with the world and participate in social activities.

At UVA, our goal is to help you gain a clear idea of how your ears work so that you can understand your symptoms and how we can help.

Conditions & Treatments

Dizziness & Vertigo

Disorders of the ear can also cause dizziness, vertigo (the feeling of moving or spinning when you’re not), or balance difficulty.  These symptoms can be caused by many different health issues, including inner ear disorders.  It is very important to have an evaluation to find the cause of your symptoms. If our team finds that your symptoms are caused by an inner ear problem, we will recommend treatment options that may include:

  • Canalith repositioning – a full body maneuver for a specific type of dizziness called benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, or BPPV
  • Vestibular exercises – head and body movements that reduce your dizziness and improve your balance
  • Injections in the ear to relieve the symptoms of Meniere’s disease, a disabling condition characterized by episodes of room-spinning vertigo and hearing loss
  • Surgery – operations to relieve the symptoms of superior semicircular canal dehiscence or Meniere’s disease
  • Fall prevention – falls are a major health issue in older adults; we will talk to you about strategies to prevent falls

If we find that your symptoms are not caused by an ear problem, we will refer you to the right specialist to help you.

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