Balance Disorders

What are Balance Disorders?

Overview

There are more than 200 medical conditions that can cause dizziness, balance problems, and balance disorders. Many different terms are used to describe these symptoms, which can make diagnosis complex.

Understanding the exact nature of a balance disorder helps our experts at Pacific Eye, Ear & Skull Base Center diagnose conditions more accurately.

• Dizziness describes sensations of lightheadedness, faintness, or unsteadiness.
• Vertigo involves a spinning or rotational sensation, often due to an inner ear disorder.
• Disequilibrium refers to unsteadiness or imbalance, often with spatial disorientation, but without the spinning component.

Our sense of balance depends on input from the eyes, nerves in muscles and joints, and the vestibular system (inner ear). These signals are processed by the brainstem (central vestibular system) to keep us oriented and steady. While our bodies can often compensate for visual or nerve-related changes, abnormalities in the inner ear are harder to process, often leading to dizziness, vertigo, or disequilibrium.

Because balance disorders can result from multiple systems interacting, diagnosis is complex. At Pacific Eye, Ear & Skull Base Center, our otolaryngologists, neuro‑ophthalmologists, and neurosurgeons use a team-based approach to evaluate and treat balance problems effectively. In some cases, treatment may include medications (including intratympanic injections) or vestibular rehabilitation (specialized balance therapy).

Who is Affected?

Balance Disorders can affect people of all ages but are more common in:

• Adults over age 60.
• Individuals with a history of inner ear infections or disorders.
• People with neurological conditions.
• Those with vision problems or peripheral neuropathy.
• Patients taking medications that affect the inner ear or nervous system.

Balance Disorder Symptoms & Causes

Symptoms

Symptoms of balance problems can include:

• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Spinning sensation (vertigo)
• Feeling unsteady or about to fall
• Difficulty walking in the dark or on uneven surfaces
• Nausea or motion sensitivity
• Blurred vision or trouble focusing

Causes

Balance disorders can be caused by:

• Inner ear conditions (e.g., benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, Ménière’s disease, vestibular neuritis)
• Neurological disorders (e.g., stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease)
• Visual problems
• Medications that affect the vestibular system
• Head trauma
• Aging-related changes to the vestibular system

When to See a Doctor

Seek immediate medical attention if you experience any of the following symptoms:

• Loss of consciousness or severe headaches
• Sudden, severe vertigo with vomiting.
• Balance problems with double vision, weakness, or slurred speech.
• Sudden hearing loss or ringing in one ear.

Balance Disorders Diagnosis

Diagnosing balance disorders often requires a combination of:

• Neurological evaluation
• Detailed medical history & physical examination
• Hearing and vestibular testing
• Imaging studies (MRI or CT scans)

Balance DisordersTreatment & Outcomes

Treatment Options

Treatment for balance disorders depends on the underlying cause and may include:

• Medications including inner ear injections for some vestibular conditions.
• Vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT) that include specialized exercises to retrain balance.
• Hearing aids or assistive devices for those with hearing-related balance issues.
• Surgery in rare, complex cases.

Patient Outcomes

Many patients experience significant symptom relief with proper diagnosis and individualized treatment, improving their ability to walk, perform daily tasks, and enjoy a better quality of life.

Managing Balance Disorders

Practical tips for managing balance disorders include:

• Reviewing medications with your doctor for potential balance-related side effects.
• Engaging in vestibular rehabilitation exercises as prescribed.
• Avoiding sudden movements and using handrails when needed.
• Staying hydrated and maintaining good nutrition.
• Limiting alcohol and caffeine.

Meet our Expert Specialists & Surgeons

Abbas A. Anwar, MD

ENT Surgery, Neurorhinology

David M. Butler, MD

ENT Surgery, Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery

Chester F. Griffiths, MD

ENT Surgery

Courtney Voelker, MD, PhD (DPhil Oxon)

Ear, ENT Surgery

Experience Compassionate, Expert Care

At Pacific Neuroscience Institute’s Ear, Hearing & Balance Clinic, patients benefit from world-class specialists, advanced diagnostic tools, and access to the latest therapies. Our collaborative team approach ensures that every patient receives a customized treatment plan. Contact us to make an appointment.

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