Dizziness, lightheadedness, ringing in the ears, a feeling of unsteadiness… When these symptoms occur regularly, they may indicate a condition that a neuro-otologist—a specialist in inner ear disorders—can help diagnose and treat. Dr. Yashirally Peerbaccus, an otolaryngology consultant at C-Care Wellkin, tells us more.
Neuro-otology is a subspecialty that focuses on the complex relationship between the ears and the brain in relation to hearing, balance, and coordination. The resulting disorders are numerous: persistent or unexplained instability, dizziness or vertigo when lying down or during head movements, ringing in the ears sometimes accompanied by a sensation of lightheadedness, pressure in the head, or transient episodes of disorientation or brain fog, intermittent blurred vision, sometimes associated with symptoms of instability… “Vestibular neuritis, vestibular migraine, Ménière’s disease, and labyrinthitis are conditions I also frequently encounter in my practice,” says Dr. Peerbaccus.
While these conditions can occur at any age, advancing age is a major contributing factor. “As we age, the organs responsible for balance become less effective, which is often accompanied by an increase in symptoms related to dizziness and hearing loss,” he explains. Thus, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)—a common cause of vertigo—as well as vestibular migraine and Ménière’s disease, occur primarily in the adult population.
According to Dr. Peerbaccus, the onset of the symptoms mentioned above should prompt patients to seek medical attention promptly in order to obtain an accurate diagnosis. “Many ENT conditions related to balance, instability, or dizziness accompanied by nausea or vomiting can resemble other medical conditions,” he explains. Other symptoms, such as dizziness associated with fatigue, headaches, or blurred vision, can also be attributed to various causes, which can sometimes complicate the diagnosis. It is therefore essential to consult a doctor with expertise in neuro-otology: they will be able to identify the cause of the disorder and recommend appropriate management, going beyond simply treating the symptoms.
