When to See an Audiologist in Columbia for Balance Issues and Dizziness

Balance problems and dizziness affect millions of Americans each year, disrupting daily activities and reducing quality of life. Many people don't realize that some audiologists specialize in diagnosing and treating balance disorders. At HearSense SC in Columbia, South Carolina, we help patients understand the connection between their inner ear and balance system, providing care for those experiencing dizziness and related symptoms.

Not All Audiologists Treat Balance Disorders

While all audiologists receive training in vestibular assessment during their doctoral programs, not all choose to incorporate balance services into their practice. Many audiologists focus exclusively on hearing aids and hearing tests. Balance care requires specialized equipment, ongoing continuing education, and dedicated expertise.

At HearSense SC, Dr. Megan Thomas brings specialized experience in vestibular assessment from her time working in the vestibular research lab at Boys Town National Research Hospital. This background allows us to offer comprehensive balance care that many audiology practices don't provide.

Understanding the Inner Ear's Role in Balance

The inner ear contains more than just the structures responsible for hearing. The vestibular system, located deep within the inner ear, works constantly to help maintain your sense of balance and spatial orientation. This system includes three semicircular canals filled with fluid and lined with tiny hair cells that detect head movements. When you turn your head, bend down, or change positions, these structures send signals to your brain about your body's position in space.

Problems within the vestibular system can create a range of symptoms, from mild unsteadiness to severe vertigo. Because of our specialized training in the anatomy and function of the inner ear, we're able to assess and treat many types of balance disorders.

Common Signs You Should Schedule an Appointment

Dizziness and balance problems look different for different people. Some experience a spinning sensation, while others feel lightheaded or unsteady on their feet. Knowing when to seek professional help can make a real difference in your recovery.

Consider scheduling an appointment if you experience:

Positional Vertigo - A sudden spinning sensation when you move your head in certain directions, like rolling over in bed, looking up, or bending down. This sensation typically lasts less than a minute but can be quite intense.

Persistent Unsteadiness - Feeling off-balance or like you might fall, particularly when walking or standing. This can make simple tasks like grocery shopping or walking through a parking lot feel unsafe.

Chronic Lightheadedness - A floating or disconnected feeling that doesn't improve with rest or hydration. This is different from the temporary lightheadedness you might feel from standing up too quickly.

Visual Disturbances with Movement - Difficulty focusing your vision during head movements, or a sensation that the world is moving when it shouldn't be.

Recurring Episodes - Multiple incidents of dizziness or balance problems over days or weeks, even if each episode is brief.

Falls or Near-Falls - If balance issues have caused you to fall or catch yourself to prevent falling, professional evaluation becomes important for your safety.

BPPV and What Causes It

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo, commonly known as BPPV, is one of the most frequent causes of vertigo. This condition happens when tiny calcium crystals called otoconia become dislodged from their normal location and migrate into one of the semicircular canals. When these crystals move through the canal with head position changes, they trigger false signals about movement, creating the sensation of spinning.

BPPV often develops without an obvious cause, though it can follow a head injury, inner ear infection, or prolonged bed rest. The condition is more common in adults over 50 and tends to affect women more frequently than men.

The hallmark of BPPV is brief episodes of intense vertigo triggered by specific head movements. Patients often describe feeling like the room is spinning around them. These episodes typically last 30 seconds to one minute and can be accompanied by nausea. The good news is that BPPV responds well to treatment, and many patients experience significant improvement after just one or two sessions.

How We Diagnose Balance Disorders

When you visit our Columbia office for balance concerns, we start with a thorough case history. Understanding when your symptoms started, what triggers them, and how they affect your daily life helps us determine the most appropriate diagnostic approach.

The diagnostic process may include positional testing, where we guide you through specific head and body movements while observing for signs of nystagmus, an involuntary eye movement that indicates vestibular dysfunction. The Dix-Hallpike maneuver is particularly useful for identifying BPPV.

We may perform balance assessments to evaluate how well your visual, vestibular, and proprioceptive systems work together. Since the hearing and balance systems share the inner ear, a complete hearing test can provide valuable information about the nature of your balance problem.

These assessments help us determine whether your symptoms stem from BPPV, another vestibular disorder, or a condition that requires referral to another specialist.

Treatment Options Available

The treatment approach for balance disorders depends on the underlying cause. For BPPV, we use specific repositioning maneuvers that guide the displaced crystals back to their proper location in the inner ear. The Epley maneuver is the most widely used technique and has a high success rate. This treatment involves moving your head through a series of positions, allowing gravity to relocate the crystals. Many patients notice improvement immediately after treatment, though some require multiple sessions for complete resolution.

We provide personalized treatment plans based on your specific diagnosis and symptoms. We'll educate you about home exercises and lifestyle modifications that can support recovery and prevent recurrence.

Schedule Your Balance Assessment

Balance problems don't have to limit your life. If you're experiencing dizziness, vertigo, or unsteadiness in the Columbia area, we're here to help. Our team at HearSense SC has the expertise and technology to accurately diagnose and effectively treat balance disorders, helping you return to the activities you enjoy with confidence.

Contact our office at (803) 567-2533 or visit us at 115 Atrium Way, Suite 102 in Columbia to schedule your balance assessment. We'll work with you to identify the source of your symptoms and create a treatment plan that gets you back on solid ground.