Other Vestibular Conditions

Other Causes of Vestibular Dysfunction

Below are links to the VEDA vestibular.org website for more specific support on these vestibular disorders.

• Acoustic neuroma: A benign tumor growing on the vestibulo-cochlear nerve.

• Autoimmune inner ear disease: Occurs when the defense capabilities of a mal-functioning immune system harm the cells of the body that affect the ear. Specific diagnoses include Cogan’s syndrome, Wegener’s granulomatosis, systemic lupus, Sjogren’s syndrome, and rheumatoid arthritis, among others.

• Cervicogenic dizziness:  A clinical syndrome of disequilibrium and disorientation in patients with neck problems that include cervical trauma, cervical arthritis, and others.

• Cholesteatoma: A skin growth that occurs in the middle ear behind the eardrum.

• Enlarged vestibular aqueduct: Houses the fluid-filled endolymphatic duct, which is connected to the endolymphatic sac. The function of the duct and the sac are affected when the aqueduct is larger than normal.

• Middle ear pressure changes: Such as from colds or allergies, can result from swelling of the Eustachian tube or the presence of fluid in the middle ear.

• Otitis media: A bacterial infection of the middle ear and meningitis is a bacterial infection of the brain covering that may spread to the inner ear.

• Otosclerosis: An abnormal growth of bone of the middle ear that prevents structures within the middle and inner ear from working properly.

• Ototoxicity: Caused by exposure to certain drugs or chemicals (e.g., intravenous aminoglycoside antibiotics) that damage the inner-ear nerve hair cells or the vestibulo-cochlear nerve.

• Perilymph fistula: Caused by injury, is a tear or defect in the oval or round window, which are small, thin membranes that separate the middle ear from the fluid-filled inner ear.

• Superior semicircular canal dehiscence: An opening in the bone overlying the uppermost semicircular canal within the inner ear.

• Secondary endolymphatic hydrops: Involves abnormalities in quantity, composition, or pressure of the endolymph.

• Vascular compression of the vestibular nerve: An irritation of the vestibular portion of the vestibulo-cochlear nerve by a blood vessel.