Dizziness & Balance
Maintaining Balance
Your brain maintains balance by processing information from three major sources: your eyes, your inner ear (the vestibular system), and the sensory receptors in your skin, muscles, and joints.
When any of these systems is disrupted, it can lead to vertigo, dizziness, and/or unsteadiness. In fact, dizziness is one of the most common reasons adults seek medical care.
If you have dizziness, vertigo, and/or unsteadiness issues, come to our office to see an audiologist for balance testing at The Centers for Advanced ENT Care - Montgomery Otolaryngology.
What Are Vertigo, Dizziness & Unsteadiness?
Vertigo
Vertigo is the false sensation of movement, often described as spinning—either you feel like you’re moving, or the environment appears to move around you.
Dizziness
Dizziness is a broad, nonspecific term, with symptoms such as vertigo or lightheadedness.
Vertigo and dizziness may occur suddenly or be triggered by changes in position, head movements, certain visual environments, sounds, and other factors. These symptoms can also make it difficult to maintain an upright posture.
Unsteadiness
Unsteadiness is the feeling of being unstable while sitting, standing, or walking, and it increases the risk of falling.
Other symptoms that may accompany vertigo, dizziness, or unsteadiness include nausea, vomiting, faintness, changes in hearing, a feeling of pressure or fullness in one or both ears, increased tinnitus (ringing in the ears), as well as feelings of fear or anxiety.
What Causes Vertigo, Dizziness & Unsteadiness?
Some causes of vertigo, dizziness, and unsteadiness include the following:
- Acoustic neuroma or vestibular schwannoma (tumors that affect the nerve leading to the ear)
- Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) – caused by loose calcium crystals in the inner ear
- Blood pressure changes
- Heart or cardiovascular disorders
- Inner ear fistula (e.g., superior canal dehiscence)
- Infections, including ear infections
- Ménière’s disease
- Migraine
- Head injury
- Visual disorders
- Multiple sclerosis
- Ototoxic medications (drugs harmful to hearing/balance)
- Multiple medications that raise fall risk
When Should You Seek Medical Care
Call 911 or seek emergency medical care if you have any of the following symptoms:
- Chest pain
- Falling or difficulty walking
- Head trauma or injury
- Sudden hearing loss
- High fever
- Numbness or tingling
- Leg or arm weakness
- Severe neck stiffness
- Slurred speech
- Blurred, double, or altered vision
It’s important to see your physician to determine the cause of these symptoms. Depending on the underlying issue, treatment may involve medication, surgery, or vestibular rehabilitation. Based on what you report, your physician may refer you to an audiologist for balance testing.
Balance testing evaluates how your eyes, inner ears (vestibular system), and the sensory receptors in your skin, muscles, and joints are functioning to identify the source of your symptoms. Because hearing loss can sometimes occur alongside balance disorders, a hearing test is often included as well.
Some balance assessments can be completed in your physician’s office, while others require specialized equipment found in an audiology clinic.
Vestibular (Balance) Rehabilitation Therapy
If testing shows that vestibular rehabilitation could help, your provider may recommend an individualized therapy plan.
Goals of Vestibular Rehabilitation
- Reduce dizziness
- Improve stability and balance
- Restore daily function
- Enhance overall quality of life
Vestibular therapy may be provided by:
- Audiologists
- Physical therapists
- Occupational therapists
Physical and occupational therapists are specially trained to provide more comprehensive and extensive rehabiliation and help reduce the risk of falls through prevention.
When Should You See an Audiologist?
Audiologists conduct tests to assess both your hearing and balance function. These results help identify the possible cause of your symptoms and guide appropriate treatment for vertigo, dizziness, or unsteadiness. Audiologists also explain their findings so you can better understand what’s happening. Having this knowledge often brings significant relief by reducing uncertainty about your condition.
Consult an audiologist if you experience:
- Persistent dizziness or vertigo
- Unexplained unsteadiness
- Hearing changes
- Ear fullness or pressure
- A history of balance‑related falls
Need Help With Dizziness or Balance Issues?
If dizziness, vertigo, or imbalance is affecting your daily life, professional evaluation is the first step toward relief. An audiologist can help identify underlying causes and guide you toward effective treatment—whether medical, surgical, or through vestibular rehabilitation.
At The Centers for Advanced ENT Care - Montgomery Otolaryngology, we have a trusted team of audiologists who can help perform tests to gather information about your hearing and balance issues. Get started today by calling our office in Gaithersburg, MD at (301) 963-6334, or Silver Spring, MD at (301) 593-5200, or by using the convenience and ease of online scheduling.
To schedule an appointment:
Gaithersburg Office
(301) 963-6334
or
Silver Spring Office
(301) 593-5200
Gaithersburg Office
818 W. Diamond Ave, Ste. 120
Gaithersburg, MD 20878
Call: (301) 963-6334
Fax: (301) 869-7204
Silver Spring Office
10801 Lockwood Drive, #360
Silver Spring, MD 20901
Call: (301) 593-5200
Fax: (301) 593-7835
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