Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsEffect on BalanceOther SymptomsAt-Home TreatmentIn-Office TreatmentWhen to See a Provider

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Effect on Balance

Other Symptoms

At-Home Treatment

In-Office Treatment

When to See a Provider

Ear crystals, or canaliths, are calcium crystals that support the vestibular system in yourinner ear. This system regulates your balance and spatial orientation. When ear crystals get dislodged from their proper place,benignparoxysmalpositional vertigo (BPPV)results.

BPPV can make you sensitive to movements that normally do not affect you. This is known asvertigo. Vertigo is the feeling of moving, spinning, or being off balance even if you are still.

Vertigo can be a symptom of BPPV or many other health problems. Getting a diagnosis can help you treat the cause of the problem. It can also help you determine whether your right or left ear has loose crystals, which can help in treatment.

This article describes how ear crystals affect balance and other symptoms they can cause. It also explains treatments and when to seek medical care.

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person sitting on bed

Ear Crystals and Effect on Balance

Balance problems, or vertigo, can be a symptom of dislodged ear crystals. Ear crystals help two parts of your inner ear, called theutricleandsaccule, sense head tilt and movement. They act like weights that slide with changes in head position. This makes you sensitive to gravity so you can keep your balance.

The problem affects your balance. The perception of movement, even though it doesn’t exist, can interfere with your ability to perform simple activities like walking during an episode.

Causes of Dizziness When Lying Down (and When to Worry)

In addition to problems with balance, ear crystals can cause the following symptoms:

Symptoms can last a few seconds to differ. Common triggers are rolling over in bed, tilting your head up to look at something, or bending your head.

Why Do Some People Have More Ear Crystals and Complications Than Others?While the cause of problematic ear crystals is often unknown, the issue affects more women than men. Having certain health conditions, such as the following, may also increase the risk of ear crystals dislodging, resulting in vertigo:Head traumaMigraineHypertension (high blood pressure)High total cholesterol levelVitamin D deficiencyOsteoporosis(a condition of decreased bone mass and bone mineral density)

Why Do Some People Have More Ear Crystals and Complications Than Others?

While the cause of problematic ear crystals is often unknown, the issue affects more women than men. Having certain health conditions, such as the following, may also increase the risk of ear crystals dislodging, resulting in vertigo:Head traumaMigraineHypertension (high blood pressure)High total cholesterol levelVitamin D deficiencyOsteoporosis(a condition of decreased bone mass and bone mineral density)

While the cause of problematic ear crystals is often unknown, the issue affects more women than men. Having certain health conditions, such as the following, may also increase the risk of ear crystals dislodging, resulting in vertigo:

How to Dislodge Ear Crystals at Home

Loose ear crystals are typically easy to treat. Your healthcare provider can determine whether your right or left ear is affected, which can be essential in administering treatment. Consult with your healthcare practitioner before treating ear crystals at home since symptoms of vertigo may be signs of a more serious health condition.

With or without treatment, symptoms can come and go, but they typically resolve within one to three months in about 50% of people with BPPV. However, it can be difficult to endure vertigo while waiting for it to improve. Conservative physical therapy treatments that involve neck and head maneuvers can help reduce the duration of potentially debilitating symptoms.

Exercises to Try

Half-Somersault Exercise

The half-somersault is an exercise you do on your own that begins in a kneeling position. After each positional change, allow any dizziness to subside before moving into the next position. If no dizziness occurs while in a position, hold the position for 15 seconds. The half-somersault exercise involves the following movements:

Home Versions of Canalith Repositioning Procedures

Vitamin D and Calcium

Research indicates that supplementation with over-the-counter vitamin D andcalciummay be an effective treatment in patients with frequent attacks of BPPV, especially when serum vitamin D is subnormal. In a study group, people who took the supplements reported a 24% reduction in their rate of vertigo versus those who did not take the supplements.

Herbal Remedies and Supplements

The following natural home remedies have been proven to improve symptoms of vertigo, although these treatments do not cure or help dislodge the ear crystals:

Lifestyle Changes

Since BPPV often resolves on its own over time, you may be advised to follow a watch-and-wait approach and use the following strategies to reduce symptoms and lower the number of BPPV episodes you experience:

How Vertigo Is Treated

Specialist-Driven Ear Crystals Treatment

Specialist-driven ear crystal treatments typically involve a series of head movements intended to move the dislodged ear crystals into a different part of your ear. Once repositioned, the ear crystals can dissolve, break up, or move to another part of your ear where they can’t cause symptoms.

These treatments are highly effective. Many people achieve positive results with just one treatment, though repeat sessions may be necessary. Your healthcare provider may instruct you on ways to perform one or more of these techniques at home if ongoing treatment is needed.

Epley Maneuver

TheEpley maneuveris a set of four specific head movements that are held for 30 seconds each. The procedure begins with sitting on the side of an exam table and involves the following movements:

Depending on your results, your healthcare provider may repeat the entire process as many as three times, until you experience symptom relief.

Semont Maneuver

TheSemont maneuveris a treatment in which you begin sitting on the exam table, with your legs hanging off the edge, while your healthcare provider performs the following movements:

Brandt-Daroff Exercise

TheBrandt-Daroff exercisebegins in an upright, seated position and involves the following movements:

Surgery

Surgery is rarely used and only after other treatments fail. One surgical option is called canal plugging. This treatment blocks the movement of ear crystals. While it works well, it comes with a rare risk of hearing loss.

Causes of Vertigo and How It Is Treated

When to Schedule a Provider Visit

Symptoms of vertigo can have a significant impact on your daily life. Feeling unstable and dizzy can make daily activities complex and challenging. It can also increase your risk of slips and falls.

If you have feelings of disorientation, tilting, or spinning even when you are still, you should schedule a healthcare provider visit to discuss your symptoms. Dizziness and vertigo can occur as symptoms of many health problems. Your healthcare provider can help determine the cause of your dizziness.

Seek help immediately if you have vertigo with any of the following:

You should also seek immediate medical treatment if you have vertigo and any of the following characteristics:

Summary

Dislodged ear crystals can disrupt the normal function of your inner ear’s vestibular system. This system helps keep you balanced and aware of spatial relationships. When dislodged ear crystals interfere with its function, the problem causes BPPV, a type of vertigo. The effect can make it hard to maintain a normal balance because it makes you feel like you’re moving when you’re not.

Without treatment, BPPV often clears on its own, though it can take between one and three months. Getting a prompt diagnosis can help you get the treatment needed to reduce the time spent dealing with symptoms.

If you have dizziness or vertigo that comes and goes, contact your healthcare provider to get a proper diagnosis. While ear crystals are a common cause of vertigo, this issue is also tied to other health problems.

19 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

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