At one point or another, you’ve probably stood up too quickly, and perhaps lost your sense of balance. Feeling dizzy or unsteady can happen briefly and usually isn’t cause for serious concern. However, when that dizziness doesn’t have a clear cause or occurs on a regular basis, there may be an underlying problem.
If you’re experiencing hearing loss, you might be wondering if a hearing aid could make things worse. Since vertigo is often linked to other problems related to the ear, this is an understandable concern. But it’s important to keep in mind that a variety of health issues can cause this condition. (Hint: hearing aids are not one of them.)
Let’s look at some common questions regarding vertigo and hearing loss and clear up misconceptions and discuss how to treat vertigo symptoms.
The timeline for vertigo symptoms varies from person to person, but one episode generally lasts for only a few seconds or minutes. However, for some, the sensation could last for several hours or even multiple days.
Certain people may experience very mild, brief periods of vertigo while others have more unpredictable and severe cases. The length of an episode can vary greatly depending on the underlying cause.
Vertigo can be triggered by a variety of other health conditions, and adults ages 65 and older are particularly susceptible.
Although there isn’t one primary cause, it’s commonly linked to issues with the ear, including problems with the inner ear, brain or sensory nerve pathway. It can also appear as a symptom of an ear infection or Meniere’s disease, which is an inner ear disorder. Three out of four cases of vertigo are tied to hearing disorders.
Tinnitus, or ringing in the ears, is related to problems with the inner ear’s hearing system, just like hearing loss and balance issues. The buzzing, whistling or hissing sound that accompanies tinnitus is an indicator that something isn’t right within the auditory system.
Like vertigo, tinnitus is a sensation and symptom of another disease or issue—it’s not a disease in and of itself. People with tinnitus often have some form of hearing loss as well, but there isn’t evidence that tinnitus causes vertigo.
The short answer to this question is no. Although vertigo and hearing loss or health issues are often related, hearing aids are not part of the equation. Medical experts have determined that hearing aids do not cause any known health issues and do not have negative side effects.
When you first get hearing aids, there is often an adjustment period of a few weeks. It takes your brain and central auditory system some time to get used to the new sounds and information it’s receiving. Nevertheless, once you settle into your revitalized listening experience, you’ll likely enjoy an improved social life, a new sense of confidence and many other benefits from your hearing aids. Hearing aids don’t cause vertigo—but there’s a good chance they’ll cause life to get better.
Although vertigo can sometimes cause a loss of balance, hearing aids do not. In fact, a study from Washington University found that treating hearing loss with hearing aids can actually improve balance. Receiving additional auditory signals appeared to help participants maintain stability. This evidence also suggested that older individuals in particular may benefit from a lower risk of falling associated with wearing hearing aids.
So, can hearing aids cause vertigo? The answer is no—hearing aids don’t cause dizziness, spinning or a phantom sense of motion. Similarly, hearing aids don’t create balance problems. There is not sufficient evidence to declare that vertigo and tinnitus are always correlated.
Causes of vertigo vary from person to person, and it doesn’t always require medical treatment. When symptoms appear, finding a quiet space to lie still can help you cope. Sitting down right away can also alleviate some of the discomfort caused by dizziness. Certain over-the-counter medications like antihistamines may also provide temporary relief for vertigo symptoms like nausea and motion sickness.
If dizziness and spinning sensations happen regularly for you see your medical doctor, however making a few simple lifestyle adjustments can also help you find relief. For example, consider squatting down rather than bending over to pick something up to maintain an upright orientation. Using a cane when walking may lessen the negative effects as well.
However, since vertigo often accompanies another underlying issue, it’s important to address the cause. Once a doctor detects the reason for a specific case of vertigo, they can determine whether there’s an appropriate medical treatment available.
Vertigo and hearing loss often occur together and can stem from a variety of underlying conditions.
Hearing loss and vertigo occurring together often point to conditions that affect the inner ear, the auditory nerve, or parts of the brain involved in balance. Some of the main diseases and disorders where these symptoms may appear include:
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is one of the most common causes of vertigo. It occurs when tiny calcium carbonate crystals (otoconia) in the inner ear become dislodged and move into the semicircular canals, disturbing balance signals to the brain.
A key point is that BPPV typically causes fluctuating vertigo without hearing loss. The dizziness is often triggered by head movements such as rolling over in bed, looking up, or bending down. Symptoms may include spinning sensations, imbalance, nausea, and nystagmus (involuntary eye movements), but hearing typically remains normal.
If a person experiences both vertigo and hearing loss, other conditions should be considered, such as Ménière’s disease, labyrinthitis, vestibular schwannoma, or autoimmune inner ear disease, since these disorders more commonly link the two symptoms.
Hearing loss and vertigo are closely linked because both involve the inner ear, which manages hearing and balance. In many cases, vertigo does not arise from hearing loss itself, but from the underlying condition that affects both the auditory and vestibular systems.
Acute vertigo accompanied by hearing loss in one ear usually indicates a problem within the inner ear or auditory nerve. In such cases, the dizziness and imbalance are not caused by the hearing loss itself, but by the underlying disorder affecting both hearing and balance—a phenomenon known as vertigo secondary to hearing loss.
Several conditions may explain this link:
By contrast, conductive hearing loss from problems in the outer or middle ear, such as earwax build-up or otosclerosis, rarely causes vertigo since the balance organs remain intact.
Because vertigo and one-sided hearing loss may signal serious inner ear or nerve-related disease, seek medical attention immediately if you experience these symptoms.
When vertigo and hearing loss occur together, careful diagnosis is essential to identify the underlying cause. Doctors typically begin with a detailed history, physical examination, and hearing tests. The combination of dizziness and hearing impairment often points to raises suspicion o inner ear or nerve-related conditions. Common considerations include Ménière’s disease, labyrinthitis, vestibular neuritis with cochlear involvement, sudden sensorineural hearing loss, or acoustic neuroma.
If hearing loss only affects one ear, additional testing is usually required to rule out serious disorders. MRI of the head can detect tumors such as vestibular schwannoma and help rule out neurological conditions like multiple sclerosis. Blood tests and balance function testing may also be performed to clarify the diagnosis.
For veterans, these conditions may also be considered in disability claims. The VA evaluates hearing loss, tinnitus, and vertigo based on symptom severity and functional impact. Tinnitus is often rated separately, while vertigo linked to vestibular disorders may qualify for additional compensation.
Overall, accurate diagnosis of vertigo with hearing loss requires both ear-focused and neurological investigations to ensure effective treatment and to address potential disability support.
Vertigo, hearing loss, and tinnitus often occur together and usually point to inner ear disorders. These three symptoms arise because the cochlea (responsible for hearing) and the vestibular system (responsible for balance) are closely connected. When these structures are affected, patients may experience spinning dizziness, progressive or sudden hearing loss, and ringing in the ear.
The most common condition combining vertigo, tinnitus, and hearing loss is Ménière’s disease, characterized by recurrent vertigo attacks, fluctuating hearing loss (often in one ear), tinnitus, and ear pressure. Labyrinthitis may also cause acute vertigo with hearing loss and tinnitus, typically following infection. Another serious condition is sudden sensorineural hearing loss with vertigo, which requires urgent treatment to preserve hearing.
Treatment depends on the underlying cause.
Prompt diagnosis and tailored treatment are essential to prevent permanent hearing damage and control vertigo.
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