Conditions

An acoustic neuroma is a noncancerous tumor that grows on the nerves attached to your inner ear and can get larger over time, causing symptoms that can range from minor to life-threatening. Common treatments for acoustic neuroma include surgery and radiation therapy.

A balance disorder is any condition that makes you unsteady, especially when standing or walking. Balance disorders can be caused by a number of changes in the body that help you keep your balance, such as your vision, foot sensation, and inner ears. Most commonly, balance disorders are caused by problems in your inner ear, or vestibular [vess-TIB-yoo-ler] system.

Dizziness is a word used to describe a sensation of feeling faint, unsteady, or disoriented. Common causes of dizziness include headaches and inner ear problems.

Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is hearing loss as a result of exposure to loud sounds or noises.

Most people will experience dizziness and a sudden loss of balance at some point in their lifetime. In many cases, a sudden loss of balance is caused by a problem in the ears.

Ménière’s [meyn-YAIRZ] disease is an inner ear disorder that causes vertigo, nausea, dizziness, and hearing loss that eventually becomes permanent. Doctors don’t know what causes this disease, but treatment can help control your symptoms and slow the hearing loss.

Presbycusis [PREZ-bi-KYOO-sis] is hearing loss that is related to aging. It can be made worse by long exposure to loud noises, so it’s important to protect your ears.

Usher syndrome is a genetic disease that causes hearing loss, including deafness, and problems with vision, including night blindness and total blindness. Usher syndrome is a genetic disorder, meaning that parents pass the genes for this syndrome onto their children.