Dizziness and balance tests

What is BPPV?

BPPV (Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo) is a condition in which small crystal-like particles (ear stones) become dislodged from their normal location in the inner ear and move to other parts of the ear. This causes sudden episodes of dizziness when the head is moved into certain positions.

Symptoms:

Sudden dizziness or a feeling that your surroundings are spinning.

Dizziness is often triggered by head movements, such as lying down, turning over in bed, or looking up.

Nausea associated with dizziness.

Reasons:

BPPV occurs when small particles (crystals) in the inner ear break loose and move into a canal where they don't belong. This can happen after a head injury, aging, or for no apparent reason.

Treatment:

Treatment often involves manual maneuvers such as the Epley maneuver, which helps move the loose ear stones back to their correct location.

Exercises and head movements can help relieve symptoms.

When should you seek medical attention?

If you experience sudden dizziness, you should contact a doctor for a diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

A virus on the vestibular nerve simply means that the vestibulocochlear nerve or organ no longer functions properly, which can cause sudden dizziness or loss of balance. This infection is also called vestibular neuritis or vestibular neuritis.

What's happening?

The disease - which is not a virus at all - attacks the part of the balance nerve that sends signals from the inner ear to the brain, affecting the body's ability to maintain balance. It causes sudden and persistent severe dizziness.

Symptoms:

Typically, you wake up in the morning feeling unwell and nauseous, but may not necessarily have the impression that there is something wrong with your ears. Many interpret the symptoms as a stomach infection, since the symptoms consist of nausea and vomiting. Sudden dizziness or a feeling that the surroundings are spinning.

Balance problems, especially when moving the head. Nausea and vomiting as a result of the dizziness.

There is usually no hearing loss with vestibular neuritis (if it is purely a balance nerve effect), but some people may experience mild discomfort in the ear.

Reasons:

The primary cause is unknown, although there are many theories. The main thing is that the balance nerve or organ on one side does not work and this disrupts the function on one side.

In many cases, you never find out why one balance organ suddenly doesn't work, but you can measure this very precisely by testing the function with advanced video glasses (so-called VIHT equipment).

Treatment:

Treatment is primarily symptomatic and may include:

Rehabilitation training (vestibular rehabilitation) to help restore balance and reduce symptoms over time.

Adrenal corticosteroid can be used in some cases, but treatment should be initiated within 48-72 hours to have any effect.

Forecast:

Most people recover from the condition within a few weeks, although there may be a period of balance problems that require rehabilitation. However, it is not unusual for some symptoms to slowly improve over months.

When should you seek medical attention?

If you experience sudden dizziness, balance problems, or nausea, you should contact a specialist for a correct diagnosis and treatment.

Ménière's disease is a disorder of the inner ear that affects both balance and hearing. It is characterized by sudden episodes of dizziness (vertigo), tinnitus (ringing in the ears), hearing problems, and a feeling of fullness or pressure in the ear.

Reasons:

The cause of Ménière's disease is not entirely clear, but it is thought to be caused by a build-up of fluid in the inner ear (endolymphatic hydrops). This build-up of fluid can interfere with balance and hearing. It may be related to genetic factors, infections, trauma, or problems with blood circulation.

Symptoms:

Dizziness (vertigo):

Sudden and intense episodes of dizziness that can last from minutes to hours.

Hearing problems:

Temporary or permanent hearing loss, especially in low-frequency sounds.

Tinnitus:

A constant or periodic ringing sound in the ears.

Sensation of pressure in the ear:

A feeling of fullness or pressure in the affected ear.

Progress:

Symptoms often come in fits and starts and can vary in intensity. Some people experience long periods without symptoms, while others have more frequent episodes. Over time, hearing can worsen, and the disease can lead to permanent hearing loss, especially in one ear.

Treatment:

There is no cure for Ménière's disease, but treatment aims to relieve symptoms and prevent attacks:

Placing a drain on the affected ear has been shown to be effective for many patients.

Medications such as diuretics (water pills) to reduce fluid retention.

Dizziness medication (e.g. antihistamines or betahistine) to reduce dizziness as well as common anti-nausea medication to treat seizures.

Dietary changes: Reduce salt intake to help with fluid balance.

Vestibular rehabilitation: Exercises that help train balance.

Surgery: In rare cases, surgeries such as endolymphatic shunts or balance nerve division may be necessary if symptoms are very severe.

Forecast:

Ménière's disease can be a chronic condition, but many people can live normal lives with treatment. However, it is possible to develop permanent hearing loss in the affected ear over time, and the vertigo of the disease can be disabling in some cases.

When should you seek a specialist?

If you experience frequent dizziness, hearing problems, or tinnitus, you should contact a doctor for a correct diagnosis and treatment guidance.

Why it's important to see an ear doctor for dizziness

Dizziness can be an unpleasant and frightening experience.

Dizziness can be caused by a wide range of completely benign causes, but can also - in very rare cases - be a sign of serious illness. It is therefore important to get a correct diagnosis, especially if dizziness occurs suddenly and is severe, or if the dizziness is accompanied by other symptoms, such as facial paralysis or other neurological symptoms. This may be a sign of a blood clot in the brain or a brain hemorrhage.

Why should you see an ear doctor?

Ear, nose and throat doctors (also called otorhinolaryngologists or simply ear doctors) specialize in diseases of the ear, nose and throat, and they have the expertise needed to assess and treat dizziness that stems from problems in the balance system, hearing or related structures in the brain.

At Charlottenlund Private Hospital, a thorough examination of your symptoms will be carried out and we will rule out any serious causes.

Early diagnosis is crucial

Since some types of dizziness can cause exactly the same symptoms, it can be difficult for non-specialists (emergency room doctors and general practitioners) to rule out a serious cause of the dizziness.

Conclusion

Dizziness can be caused by many different factors, and it is important not to ignore the symptoms, especially if they are new, sudden, or persistent.

By being examined by an ear doctor, you can rule out serious causes of dizziness and get the right treatment quickly. If you are unsure about what is causing your dizziness, or if you have other worrisome symptoms, don't hesitate to seek help.

We are here to help you and ensure that you receive the best possible treatment.

But shouldn't I just get scanned?

Large international studies have shown that a thorough examination by a specialist (which involves an advanced examination of the vestibulo-cochlear reflex with so-called VHIT glasses and which is carried out according to the so-called HINTS principles) can rule out blood clots in the brain and cerebral hemorrhage BETTER than both a CT and an MRI scan combined.

You should therefore always contact your ear, nose and throat doctor if you are dizzy - and at Charlottenlund Private Hospital we have no waiting time for examination and treatment of Dizziness.