Tinnitus vs Vertigo

Your audiologist is here to help with a wide range of hearing and ear health conditions and concerns. Aside from hearing loss, two of the most common conditions they help to address are tinnitus and vertigo. Because these two can often share symptoms, some may assume they are the same thing. While they are very closely related, these terms describe different symptoms.

Defining Tinnitus and Vertigo

Tinnitus is a symptom that results in a buzzing, ringing, pulsing or other sounds in the ear. They can be intermittent, ongoing, short-term or long-term. Vertigo, on the other hand, is a symptom that results in profound dizziness, one that can often be disoriented. Both symptoms have various causes, and it is not uncommon that tinnitus can also result in dizziness, a fact that seems to tie both of them together.

It should be noted that vertigo is also used as a term to describe a fear of heights. This is an incorrect use of the term and not one that is addressed here.

Causes of Tinnitus and Vertigo

There is a range of potential causes that can lead to the symptoms of both tinnitus and vertigo:

• Tinnitus can be contributed to by hearing loss, exposure to loud noise, ear infections, earwax build-up, Meniere’s disease, glue ear, a perforated eardrum, reactions to certain medications, changes in blood flow, stress and anxiety.
• Vertigo can be caused by benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, migraines, inner ear infections and inflammation of the vestibular nerve.

The Relationship Between the Two

Both conditions are symptoms that affect the inner ear but may also have effects on the brain over time, as well. What’s more, tinnitus can lead to balance issues like vertigo, meaning that some people experience both at the same time. Meanwhile, vertigo can also cause other inner ear issues, which may include tinnitus. Finally, Meniere’s disease can cause both, so it is not entirely uncommon for someone who experiences tinnitus to also experience vertigo or vice versa.

Treatments of Tinnitus and Vertigo

Just as each symptom has its own potential list of causes, there are also different treatments available. Which treatments are most highly recommended by your audiologist will likely depend on which cause is most likely as well as direct treatment of the symptoms: Some the treatments include:

• Tinnitus can be treated with hearing aids with sound masking technology, white noise machines, tinnitus retraining therapy, earwax removal and lifestyle changes like changing medications and quitting smoking or drinking.
• Vertigocan be treated with head movement exercises, posture changes, vestibular retraining training and addressing and avoiding any movements that may trigger episodes of vertigo.

Regardless of your potential causes, if you experience either tinnitus or vertigo, or even at the same time, then your audiologist is the most qualified professional to help you address them. Get in touch today to arrange for an examination and begin whichever treatments are most likely to work.