When treating vertigo caused by the inner ear, it can be helpful to determine which ear is resulting in your symptoms. A simple vertigo test can help you find out.

Vertigo is a false sensation of dizziness that can cause difficulty walking or standing, nausea, and headaches.

Identifying the underlying cause is key to treating vertigo and providing relief. However, if your symptoms are resulting from problems in the inner ear, it may be difficult to tell which ear is the cause.

Learn more about how you can identify the cause of your symptoms, treatment options, and when you should speak with a doctor.

A simple vertigo test can help you figure out which ear is causing your symptoms:

  1. Start by sitting down and placing 2 to 3 pillows behind you.
  2. Next, turn your head 45 degrees to one side. It doesn’t matter if you begin with the right or left side, as you will be repeating this step.
  3. Staying turned, quickly lower yourself down onto the pillows behind you.
  4. Remain in this position for 1 minute, or until the dizziness stops, and then return to a sitting position.
  5. Pay attention to whether you feel dizzy during this time.
  6. Repeat on the other side.

In most cases, one of these positions will result in dizziness and alert you to which ear is causing your vertigo.

If this is proving difficult, or if the test gave inconclusive results, consider speaking with a healthcare professional.

Vertigo can have several possible causes, including:

  • Meniere disease: This is a rare inner ear disorder that can cause severe vertigo, tinnitus, and hearing loss.
  • Infection: An infection of the vestibular nerve, located in the inner ear, can result in a loss of hearing and balance.
  • Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV): This is a common disorder that is caused by dislodged calcium crystals in the inner ear canal. It can be triggered by movements such as getting out of bed or looking upward.
  • Injury: Injury to the neck or head area, including the ear, can sometimes result in vertigo.
  • Medication side effects: Some medications, such as those used to treat heart conditions, can cause vertigo as a side effect.

In some cases, vertigo may be caused by an underlying condition not listed above. Speaking with a healthcare professional can help determine what may be causing your vertigo and what treatment options can help.

Most of the time, vertigo resolves without treatment. However, if symptoms are not going away or getting worse, it may be helpful to speak with a healthcare professional. They can examine the underlying cause to determine the best treatment plan.

Common treatment options include:

Repositioning maneuvers

Repositioning maneuvers help remove loose particles, also known as canaliths, from the ear canal. These particles are a common cause of vertigo.

Types of maneuvers that a healthcare professional may use include:

During or after the maneuver, you may experience some dizziness or weakness.

Medication

There are several medications that may help relieve vertigo and associated symptoms such as nausea and migraine.

Common examples include:

Vestibular rehabilitation therapy

Vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT) involves specific exercises you can do to help manage symptoms.

VRT may include exercises such as:

  • Cawthorne-Cooksey exercises: These are daily exercises to help you retrain your balance.
  • Gaze stabilization exercises: These exercises help improve your vision and focus.
  • Brandt-Daroff exercises: These exercises move any loose ear canal crystals back to their original positions.

Surgery

In very rare cases, surgery may be recommended if other treatments are not working. The most common surgical procedure for vertigo is a labyrinthectomy.

If you are experiencing vertigo and your symptoms are not getting better or if they are worsening, consider speaking with a healthcare professional. They can analyze your symptoms to determine the best treatment plan.

How do you know if your inner ear is causing vertigo?

If your inner ear is causing vertigo, you may experience symptoms such as feeling a fullness in your ear or the following:

Which ear should you sleep on with vertigo?

If you have vertigo, it can be beneficial to sleep on the unaffected ear.

Will inner ear vertigo go away on its own?

In most cases, inner ear vertigo can go away on its own without treatment. However, if your symptoms are not going away or worsening, it is important to speak with a doctor.

Vertigo is a false sensation of dizziness that can be caused by an infection or injury to the ear. Identifying the underlying cause is key to providing relief.

If your symptoms are being caused by problems in the inner ear, it may be difficult to tell which ear is causing the vertigo. A simple maneuver test can help you find out.