Expert: Harriet B Jacobster, Au.D. - 7/26/2008

Question
Dr. Jacobster,

I have had ear popping in my left ear since flying with a cold last February (which resulted in left ear pain for two days following as I flew at the tail end of a cold).  Some days, the ear popping is more than others.  Today, I have none, but yesterday, it was pretty constant.  

Is there any relationship between this (ETD) and the inner ear?  I ask because I also feel dizzy, and driving in a car or watching motion makes the dizziness worse to the point of nausea.

I went to an ENT who suspected I had a past inner ear infection that left behind temporary damage that could take 12 weeks to heal.  He said that any kind of imbalance or ride in a car or boat could upset the inner ear after an infection.  He also did hearing tests which came back fine, and saw no fluid in the ear.  He said the popping was from air pressure, but that was all I could get out of him.  He said it would likely go away on it's own, but this popping has been on and off for five months and the dizziness is not getting better.   

So I was just curious if any problems with the Eustachian Tube could affect the inner ear, or could cause dizziness on it's own.  I should mention that my balance is fine.  

Thanks in advance!  

Answer
Hi Pam,
Dizziness can be caused by a variety of influences, including viral infections of the inner ear labyrinth (labyrinthitis) or the vestibular nerve (vestibular neuronitis). Bacterial infection of either the middle ear (otitis media) or the brain coverings (meningitis) may spread to the inner ear. Allergies can cause changes in the inner ear fluids or middle ear pressure because of swelling of the Eustachian tube and production of fluid in the middle ear. However, because there are so many causes of dizziness, it is advisable to have a complete vestibular evaluation.  This would include Electronystagmography (a test of eye movement related to vestibular function) and possibly otoacoustic emissions and auditory brainstem responses.  It may or may not be coincidental that you have ETD and dizziness, but your symptoms warrant further investigation.
Hope this helps.
Harriet B. Jacobster, AuD
Board Certified in Audiology