Can ear infections cause long-term balance issues?
Posted , 4 users are following.
I am 17 years old and I have super mild balance issues. I'm not the most steady on my feet (I am easily knocked off balance), though it doesn't really affect most activities like walking and such. However, recently I was in a beginner dance class with some friends and I noticed that I struggle MUCH more with spotting on turns than my peers.
I also recently found out that I had a left ear infection at 5 months old. Since it was at such a young age, could that infection have had a long-term effect on my balance?
0 likes, 3 replies
pistal666 grace09173
Posted
Hi Grace, Sorry that doing something you enjoy has become difficult. and understand where you are coming from. We get our equilibrium from a number of things like sight, Hearing (It's why we have two for perception and stereo to know what side something it), but the main thing is the fluid in your Head. If you imagine that your Head is an empty bucket, lined with little hairs and then fill it with water. Which ever way the fluid moves, the hairs point in a different direction, it is these Hairs which translate the movement to the Brain. When you were younger, it sounds that when you were 5 months Old the Infection had some kind of influence on this system (We naturally lose the's hairs as we get older) As these "Little hairs", found in the inner Ear, fail, our sense balance changes also. You condition may not have got worse, as it's only a minor problem during Everyday activities (slower paced), I want to go back to bucket Head if you Swirl the water round and round, then stop swirling, the water keeps going round and round, so the hairs still think that the body is spinning, but the Eyes say your still, so we get wobbly. This is a problem for people with "Fully Functioning Ears" so for you, this feeling is amplified greatly. Or, the only other thing would be pressure differences, but as you said it is worse when you do spot Turns, I would say it's the former. I hope this helps, keep trying, you might be able to get used to it a little better. Hope you feel better soon, AL
terrie27149 pistal666
Posted
anne05078 grace09173
Posted
Hello Grace,
I wouldn't have thought having had an ear infection at such
a young age would still be causing you problems today.
Do you suffer from blocked ears ? ( ETD) if you do, that
can most certainly cause balance issues.
Get an appointment with an ENT specialist and ask if
it's possible. None of us are doctors on this Forum, so
shouldn't really make any diagnosis for you. You could
also ask your doctor what he/she thinks....do you get
headaches, or migraines ? these could also potentially
cause imbalances.
Hope you get sorted soon.
Best wishes
Anne