Vestibular dysfunction is most commonly caused by head injury, aging, and viral infection. Other illnesses, as well as genetic and environmental factors, may also cause or contribute to vestibular disorders. Causes of dizziness related to vestibular system dysfunction are listed below.
An acoustic neuroma is a benign tumor growing on the vestibulo-cochlear nerve.
Autoimmune inner ear diseaseoccurs when the defense capabilities of a mal-functioning immune system harm the cells of the body that affect the ear. Specific diagnoses include Cogan’s syndrome, Wegener’s granulomatosis, systemic lupus, Sjogren’s syndrome, and rheumatoid arthritis, among others.
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is a condition resulting from loose debris (otoconia) that collect within a part of the inner ear. In addition to head injury, BPPV can occur due to the degeneration of inner-ear hair cells during the natural process of aging.
Cervicogenic dizzinessis a clinical syndrome of disequilibrium and disorientation in patients with neck problems that include cervical trauma, cervical arthritis, and others.
Cholesteatoma is a skin growth that occurs in the middle ear behind the eardrum.
An enlarged vestibular aqueduct houses the fluid-filled endolymphatic duct, which is connected to the endolymphatic sac. The function of the duct and the sac are affected when the aqueduct is larger than normal.
Labyrinthitis and vestibular neuritis are inflammations caused by a viral infection that can result in damage to hearing and vestibular function (labyrinthitis) or damage to vestibular function only (vestibular neuritis).
Mal de débarquement is a sensation of rocking or movement that persists after a sea cruise or other form of travel.
Ménière’s disease is a progressive hearing loss condition, which involves abnormalities in quantity, composition, or pressure of the endolymph (one of the fluids within the inner ear).
Cervicogenic dizzinessis a clinical syndrome of disequilibrium and disorientation in patients with neck problems that include cervical trauma, cervical arthritis, and others.
Middle ear pressure changes, such as from colds or allergies, can result from swelling of the Eustachian tube or the presence of fluid in the middle ear.
Migraine associated vertigo (MAV) is typically characterized by head pain with symptoms associated with vestibular impairment such as dizziness, motion intolerance, spontaneous vertigo, sensitivity to light and sound, tinnitus, imbalance, and spatial disorientation.
Otitis media is a bacterial infection of the middle ear which can result in further neurological complications and dizziness.
Otosclerosis is an abnormal growth of bone of the middle ear that prevents structures within the middle and inner ear from working properly.
Ototoxicity is caused by exposure to certain drugs or chemicals (e.g., intravenous aminoglycoside antibiotics) that damage the inner-ear nerve hair cells or the vestibulo-cochlear nerve.
Perilymph fistula, caused by injury, is a tear or defect in the oval or round window, which are small, thin membranes that separate the middle ear from the fluid-filled inner ear.
Superior semicircular canal dehiscence is an opening in the bone overlying the uppermost semicircular canal within the inner ear.
Secondary endolymphatic hydrops involves abnormalities in quantity, composition, or pressure of the endolymph.
Vascular compression of the vestibular nerve is an irritation of the vestibular portion of the vestibulo-cochlear nerve by a blood vessel.
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