2. Inner-Ear Conditions
The song was rather correct, “the ear bone is connected to the eye bone” and on and on, which is why the vestibular system, a maze-like bony structure in the ear impacts your vision and works to maintain proper balance. The Vestibular Disorders Association says the vestibular system is responsible for sensory information relating to motion, equilibrium, and spatial orientation. According to balance disorder specialists at Portland’s Oregon Health & Science University, this is why a simple ear infection can cause vertigo, a unsteady sensation from any condition affecting the inner ear and overall balance (i.e., a tumor).
The most common inner ear problem that affects balance is benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) which according to the Mayo Clinic, occurs when “calcium crystals in your inner ear — which help control your balance — are dislodged from their normal positions and move elsewhere in the inner ear.” This source notes that this is the most common cause of vertigo in adults.
