What causes vestibular disorders?
Blows to the head and whiplash are a frequent cause of vestibular disorders in people under age 50. Ear infections such as otitis media and inflammation of the inner ear (labyrinthitis) may also cause damage to the vestibular and hearing structures of the inner ear. Viruses may cause some vestibular disorders. High doses or long-term use of certain antibiotics can also cause permanent damage to the inner ear. Other drugs, such as aspirin, caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, sedatives, and tranquilizers, as well as many illegal drugs, can cause temporary dizziness but do not result in permanent damage to the vestibular system. Rarely, a slow-growing tumor on the nerve that leads from the inner ear to the brain (an acoustic neuroma) may interfere with the normal function of the vestibular system.
