If you often feel a little unsteady on your feet, the issue might not just be in your head. The problem might actually be in your ears.
Feeling dizzy after a boat trip, riding a rollercoaster, spinning in a circle, or running on a treadmill for the first time in a while is common. We’ve all felt the familiar feeling of being off-balance at some point in our lives, but that doesn’t mean it’s any less unsettling when it happens. And, if you feel like you’ve just gotten off a rollercoaster when you have hardly moved, you might have a balance problem related to your inner ear.
Your ears are sophisticated pieces of equipment that do much more than capture and deliver sound to your brain. The inner ear has three canals that sense different types of movement: up and down, side to side, turning in any direction and tilting. These canals are filled with fluid, and within that fluid are floating membranes with tiny cells that send signals to your brain. That special sensory information, combined with what you see and feel, helps you move and function every day. Your brain cleverly interoperates all the incoming sensory information and translates it into coordination, balance, and movement. Suppose those incoming signals are interrupted or intercepted. In that case, you can experience dizziness, nausea or a feeling that the world is spinning. You can be thrown off-balance and feel as if you’re about to fall down. Several different conditions can cause your inner ear-balance system to stop functioning the way it should. One of the most common and one that we often see at Hearing Sense is earwax.
Everyone has earwax, it’s something we all deal with. Just like sand at the beach, it can be a nuisance. Some people have much more wax than others, and if it builds up, it can block the ear. When this happens, the blockage can cause both hearing problems as well as balance issues. As we get older, the risk of earwax build-up increases. But, the problem can also occur if you stick anything, like a cotton swap, in your ear. Cotton swabs and other invasive wax removal at-home solutions can impact the wax instead of removing it.
Read our blog about cotton swabs here: https://hearingsense.com.au/cotton-swabs-helpful-harmful/
There are solutions which can be performed by medical professionals, such as irrigation. Drops for your ear are also available, which can moisten the earwax build-up so it will dislodge. If the problem persists or if other ear issues are present, you may need the help of a specialist who can remove the wax under a microscope.
If you are experiencing hearing loss, sudden or gradual, we are here to help. Our professional and friendly staff can help find the right hearing solution for your needs. Call us on 8331 8047 to book a FREE hearing test.
