Do Hearing Aids Cause Or Worsen Dizziness?

If you experience dizziness or vertigo due to an inner ear problem, you may be reluctant to wear hearing aids out of a concern that they’ll make your symptoms worse. However, this is a common misconception. The reality is that a hearing device suited to your specific condition can actually improve your balance and reduce the occurrence of dizzy spells. Here’s what you should know about dizziness and how wearing hearing aids can help.

What causes dizziness?

Dizziness is commonly characterized by feeling lightheaded, disoriented and unsteady on your feet. While this isn’t always the case, both dizziness and hearing loss can be caused by damage to the inner ear. Here’s how.

The inner ear consists of two main structures. The cochlea controls your ability to hear, and the vestibular system is responsible for helping you keep your balance. The vestibular system is made up of canals that contain sensory hair cells. These detect your head movements and relay this information to the brain to help maintain balance and stability.

Given the vital role of the vestibular system in helping you keep your balance, damage to this inner ear structure often leads to symptoms such as dizziness, vertigo and nausea. The close link between the inner ear structures involved in hearing and balance is why hearing loss will often increase a person’s risk of a serious fall.

Can a hearing aid help with dizziness?

There are numerous benefits to wearing hearing aids besides restored hearing. These devices can help improve cognitive functions and relieve symptoms of anxiety and depression. Plus, if you have hearing loss and suffer from frequent dizziness, wearing hearing aids can help you manage both conditions.

More specifically, hearing aids can help improve your balance and relieve dizziness by increasing your awareness of your surroundings. This is particularly beneficial if you also have problems with your eyesight, which makes it harder to assess your environment.

Contact an audiologist in Calgary

If you have partial or complete hearing loss and frequently experience dizziness, vertigo or balance problems, schedule a consultation at Soundwave Hearing Care today. Our experienced team of audiologists and hearing aid practitioners can help you determine the right hearing aid device to restore your hearing, relieve your dizziness and improve your quality of life. We’re proud to serve patients in Calgary, Grande Prairie, High River and Lethbridge. For more information or to book an appointment, contact us today.