Often people wonder why their dizziness is sometimes gone and sometimes not,
or why their hearing symptoms come and go. There are a number of generic explanations
for these things, which are outlined below.
Biological Oscillators
Processes with long delays in feedback loops
There are no obvious examples in the otologic framework, but neurology
has many -- for example, Cheyne-Stokes respiration, and Kleine Levin syndrome.
interaction with external oscillators
allergy (pollen counts)
seasons (for example, certain Migraine
syndromes occur seasonally).
SAD -- seasonal affective disorder
Interactions with other disturbances
other diseases such as colds may cause the vestibular or hearing deficit
to worsen
fatigue and stress
foods
medications (many medications impair balance and several also impair
hearing)
heat (i.e. in MS)
allergy status
change in glasses (may be dizzy for several days)
Diseases that have their own timing for reasons that are not entirely clear
Migraine -- characterized by episodic headache, sometimes accompanied by dizziness
Menieres -- characterized by episodic dizziness and hearing symptoms
Multiple sclerosis -- neurological symptoms that are scattered in time and space.
Content last updated:
December 26, 2007