Ear & Balance
Dizziness, Vertigo & Balance Disorders
The inner ear is your balance organ — and most vertigo starts there. Finding the specific cause is what makes treatment work.
Vertigo — the false sense that you or the room is spinning — usually originates in the inner ear. The most common causes are BPPV (loose crystals in the balance canals, triggered by position changes), vestibular neuritis (inflammation after a viral illness), and Ménière’s disease (episodes of vertigo with fluctuating hearing loss, fullness and ringing). Dr. Bortniker sorts out the cause with a focused history, ear and balance examination, and hearing and balance testing including electronystagmography.
What We Evaluate
- Spinning triggered by position
- Vertigo attacks with hearing change
- Constant unsteadiness
- Dizziness after illness or injury
Talk to a specialist
Get to the cause of dizziness — balance evaluation at our Somerville office.
Common Causes of Vertigo
BPPV — brief spinning spells set off by rolling over or looking up, caused by displaced crystals in the balance canals. Treated in the office with repositioning maneuvers (such as Epley), often with immediate relief.
Vestibular neuritis — sudden, days-long vertigo after a viral illness, which improves as the balance system recalibrates.
Ménière’s disease — recurring vertigo attacks with hearing fluctuation, ear fullness and tinnitus, managed with diet, medication and, when needed, in-office treatments.
When Dizziness Needs Prompt Attention
Vertigo with double vision, slurred speech, weakness, severe headache or trouble walking needs emergency evaluation — those are not inner-ear symptoms. Sudden hearing loss with vertigo also deserves urgent care.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can vertigo be cured in one visit?
BPPV often can — a repositioning maneuver moves the crystals back where they belong, and many patients leave the office dramatically better the same day.