How Balance and Hearing Can Be Affected By Head Injuries

The majority of individuals do not usually think about head injuries unless it has happened to them or a loved one. Traumatic brain injuries, on average, impact over 60 million people annually. The resulting outcomes can be significant, encompassing potential permanent disability or even death. Head injuries contribute to substantial economic costs of billions of dollars per year. Many people don’t realize that traumatic brain injuries can cause hearing loss or balance dysfunction. Over 60% of those with head injuries also experience dizziness, vertigo, and balance issues. In this article, we will take a closer look at how head injuries impact hearing, how they can cause hearing loss and balance problems, and the steps you can take to mitigate any adverse issues you might be experiencing.

How Head Injuries Impact Hearing and Balance

The Causes Of Traumatic Brain Injury

A traumatic brain injury usually shows up as a problem with regular brain activity resulting from an external force, such as an impact to the head, shock, or puncturing wound. The three primary classifications of a TBI are severe, moderate, and mild, defined partly by the severity of the injury.

Although frequently associated with sports, head injuries can happen with everyday activities. Car wrecks, workplace accidents, slips and falls, physical attacks, and firearm-related injuries collectively contribute to the majority of traumatic brain injuries. Traumatic brain injuries require prompt medical attention and can result in profound disability, including permanent neurological impairment. These kinds of injuries can affect physical, emotional, sensory, behavioral, and cognitive functions. The severity of a head injury usually depends on variables such as the magnitude of the impact, the region affected, and additional complications.

Physical symptoms:

Physical symptoms include headaches, dizziness, nausea, fatigue, sweating, problems maintaining balance, seizures or convulsions, weakness, and open head wounds.

Sensorial symptoms:

Sensory symptoms include sensitivity to light, tinnitus (ringing in the ear), sensitivity to sound (hyperacusis), reduced sense of taste, smell, hearing, touch, or vision, and loss of consciousness.

Cognitive symptoms:

Cognitive symptoms include confusion, memory issues, trouble concentrating, difficulty with problem-solving, reduced self-awareness, and inability to follow instructions.

Psychological symptoms:

Mental and behavioral symptoms include personality changes, mood swings, depression, anxiety, grouchiness, aggression, impulsiveness, restlessness, and reduced impulse control.

Treatment Options for Hearing and Balance Issues Related to TBIs

The treatment for traumatic brain injury is dependent upon its severity. Immediate medical attention by a qualified physician is critical to facilitate a comprehensive evaluation and promote recovery.
Treatments may include:

Rest
Allowing the brain adequate time for healing and rebuilding following a severe trauma is essential for reducing inflammation, optimizing recovery efforts, and reducing the risk of further injury.

Medication
Medication can manage inflammation, prevent seizures, reduce pressure in the brain, or even induce a coma to help the healing process.

Physical Therapy
Occupational or speech-language rehabilitation can help rehabilitate the patient’s ability to move and interact with others.

Surgery
In some cases, surgery can help to address severe issues like skull fractures, blood clots, bleeding in the brain, cranial pressure, and other severe conditions.

In the majority of cases, hearing impairments originating from a traumatic brain injury tend to improve over several months as the brain heals naturally. However, in cases involving damage to the cochlea, the damage could be irreversible. Active monitoring of hearing abilities can help distinguish between temporary and enduring hearing loss, helping to determine subsequent therapies.

The best approach to managing traumatic brain injuries involves promoting awareness and prioritizing preventative steps. Understanding and identifying potentially hazardous activities that could result in head injuries is pivotal in mitigating the possibility of accidents and injuries.

If you or someone you know has sustained a head injury and is encountering issues like tinnitus, hearing difficulties, or balance issues, make sure to schedule an appointment with our team without delay.