WHY DO PEOPLE SUFFER FROM DIZZINESS?

Approximately 80 to 90 million Americans will experience dizziness or vertigo in their lifetime. The number one complaint of people over the age of seventy is dizziness. It is estimated that eighty five percent (85%) of vertigo and balance problems are due to inner ear problems. There are many words that describe balance problems; dizzy, light headed, unsteady or giddy. If you are able to identify with any of these terms, then you are suffering with a problem that may be in the ear or head area.

If your problem is in the ear, it is located in the inner ear. This area monitors the directions of head motions such as turning or moving forward, backward, side to side and up and down. If one of the ears is damaged due to perhaps an inner ear infection, then the signals between the damaged and healthy ear will be different resulting in a feeling of being unbalanced. If your problem is in the head area, then it is probably located on the brainstem. The major complaints are lightheadedness and pressure headaches. If you are suffering from what has been described, you should see your doctor and request a hearing test and balance work-up.

Hanna M. Alexander, M.A. CCC-A
Audiologist
Member, South Bay Independent Physicians Medical Group, Inc.