Hearing and Balance Disorders

Your sense of hearing and balance play a vital role in how you experience the world and a disruption in these senses can significantly impact your daily life. Hearing allows you to communicate, enjoy music and sounds, and stay alert to your surroundings. Balance keeps you coordinated, stable, and prevents falls.

While CT scans and MRIs are not typically the primary diagnostic tools for hearing and balance disorders, imaging can sometimes play a role in identifying the underlying cause of these conditions. At Tellica Imaging, we understand that a comprehensive approach to diagnosis is important.

In some cases, specialized MRI techniques may be used to look for certain inner ear disorders or to rule out other neurological conditions that could be mimicking hearing or balance problems.

Understanding Hearing & Balance

The inner ear, though small and seemingly simple, is a marvel of engineering. Nestled deep within the temporal bone of the skull, it plays a critical role in two essential senses: hearing and balance.

This intricate structure houses the cochlea, which converts sound waves into electrical signals transmitted to the brain via the auditory nerve. The inner ear also contains fluid-filled canals and organs.

When you move your head, the fluid in these canals sloshes around, stimulating hair cells located within them. These hair cells send signals to the brain about the direction and speed of your head movements, allowing you to maintain balance and spatial orientation.

The information gathered by the inner ear is continuously relayed to the brain. The brain processes this sensory input to create your perception of the world around you. It allows you to localize sounds, maintain balance while walking or running, and adjust your posture to prevent falls.

Conditions Affecting Hearing & Balance

The inner ear is a complex and delicate organ. When something disrupts its normal function, it can lead to a variety of hearing and balance problems. Several conditions can disrupt the delicate workings of the inner ear.

Inner Ear Abnormalities

Inner ear abnormalities refer to structural malformations or defects present at birth (congenital) or acquired later in life. These abnormalities can affect the way sound waves travel through the inner ear or disrupt the delicate balance mechanism. Examples can include:

Enlarged Vestibular Aqueduct Syndrome (EVAS): This is a congenital condition in which one of the inner ear canals, the vestibular aqueduct, is abnormally large. This can lead to hearing loss, vertigo (the sensation of spinning), and problems with balance.
Meniere's Disease: This is a chronic inner ear disorder that causes episodes of vertigo, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), and fluctuating hearing loss. The exact cause of Meniere's disease is unknown, but it's believed to be related to abnormal fluid buildup within the inner ear.

Hearing Loss

Hearing loss is defined as a decrease in the ability to hear sound, ranging from mild difficulty in hearing faint sounds to complete deafness. It can affect one or both ears and can be temporary or permanent.

There are three main types of hearing loss.

Conductive Hearing Loss: This occurs when sound waves are unable to pass through the outer or middle ear efficiently. Common causes include earwax buildup, middle ear infections, or a perforated eardrum. In most cases, conductive hearing loss can be treated with medication or surgery.
Sensorineural Hearing Loss: This is damage to the inner ear (cochlea) or the auditory nerve, which transmits sound signals to the brain. This type of hearing loss is usually permanent and can be caused by age-related hearing loss, noise exposure, certain medications, or Meniere's disease.
Mixed Hearing Loss: This is a combination of conductive and sensorineural hearing loss. It can be caused by a combination of factors affecting both the outer/middle ear and the inner ear or auditory nerve.

Tinnitus

Tinnitus is the perception of ringing, buzzing, roaring, or other noises in one or both ears when no external sound is present. While tinnitus itself is not a disease, it can be a symptom of an underlying condition like:

Hearing loss
Earwax buildup
Meniere's disease
Head injury
Certain medications

In some cases, tinnitus can be quite bothersome and impact daily life.

Additional Conditions Affecting Hearing & Balance

Other conditions that can affect hearing and balance include:

Ear infections: Especially common in children, ear infections can cause temporary hearing loss and balance problems.
Head trauma: A severe blow to the head can damage the inner ear and lead to hearing loss, vertigo, and balance issues.
Benign tumors: Non-cancerous growths in the inner ear, such as acoustic neuroma, can cause hearing loss, tinnitus, and balance problems.
Certain neurological disorders: Conditions like multiple sclerosis can affect the nerves responsible for hearing and balance.

If you are experiencing any hearing or balance problems, it's crucial to consult with a healthcare professional for proper diagnosis and treatment.

Imaging Tests for Hearing & Balance Disorders

A thorough medical history and physical examination are often the initial steps in diagnosing hearing and balance disorders. However, imaging tests can provide valuable insights into the inner ear and related structures, aiding in accurate diagnosis and guiding treatment decisions.

Tellica Imaging offers advanced imaging services to help diagnose and evaluate various hearing and balance disorders.

We prioritize your comfort throughout the imaging process. Our team of experienced technologists and board-certified radiologists ensure high-quality scans and accurate interpretations. Additionally, we offer flexible scheduling to accommodate your needs and work with most major insurance plans.

Tellica Imaging’s CT Scans for Hearing & Balance Disorders

At Tellica Imaging, our state-of-the-art CT scanners produce exceptionally detailed cross-sectional images of the inner ear bones and surrounding structures. Our neurological and head CT scans offer high-resolution images to help your provider visualize abnormalities with exceptional clarity.

CT scans can be particularly helpful in:

Identifying structural abnormalities
Diagnosing otosclerosis (bones in the middle ear become fixed)
Detecting fractures

Tellica Imaging’s MRIs for Hearing & Balance Disorders

While CT scans excel at imaging bone structures, our neurological and head MRI scans offer a distinct advantage – their ability to visualize soft tissues within the inner ear and brain. This makes them a powerful tool in certain situations:

Evaluating Tumors and Nerve Abnormalities: MRI scans can detect tumors like acoustic neuroma, a benign growth on the auditory nerve. They can also reveal abnormalities in the auditory nerve itself, which might be contributing to hearing loss.
Identifying Inner Ear Inflammation: Meniere's disease, characterized by episodes of vertigo, tinnitus, and fluctuating hearing loss, can be associated with inner ear inflammation. MRI scans can sometimes help identify this inflammation, aiding in diagnosis.
Mapping Complex Hearing Loss: In some cases of hearing loss, the cause may not be readily apparent. MRI scans can be used to assess the brainstem and auditory nerve pathways, helping to pinpoint the location of the problem within the hearing system.

Schedule Your Imaging Test With Tellica Imaging

CT scans and MRIs may not always be the first line of investigation for hearing and balance disorders. However, when used strategically, they can provide crucial information that complements a thorough investigation into your condition.

At Tellica Imaging, we can work with your healthcare provider to determine the most appropriate imaging test(s) for your specific situation. Our staff is dedicated to creating a comfortable and welcoming environment for every patient. Additionally, our upfront and transparent pricing eliminates surprise bills, ensuring you can focus on your health.

Visit us at any of our convenient locations and our friendly staff will be glad to answer any questions you may have. Alternatively, call us to schedule an imaging test at any of our locations.