What Are the Causes of Vertigo and Tinnitus?

There are varying causes for vertigo and tinnitus. Inner-ear problems are a common factor shared and the primary system for a physician to evaluate for proper diagnosis.

Vertigo

• Vertigo is the sensation of spinning, dizziness and loss of balance. Vertigo can cause a person to feel nauseated.

Tinnitus

• Tinnitus is a sound resembling buzzing, ringing or humming in the ears. There is not an actual noise but rather the perception of sound, which seems to be real to the individual.

Causes of Vertigo

• Motion sickness, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo and Meniere's disease are all causes of vertigo. Viral and bacterial infections, tumors, cerumen impaction and some medications can also result in vertigo.

Causes of Tinnitus

• The most common cause of tinnitus is hearing loss due to improper signals from the inner ear and improper sound conduction due to a history of exposure to loud noises, age and some medications. Ear infections, head injuries, Meniere's disease, tumors and circulatory problems also contribute to tinnitus.

Treatment

• Medications can be used to treat vertigo with nausea medications added when needed. Patient education is the only treatment for tinnitus.