Mr Ibrahim Albert Srouji
Otolaryngology / ENT

When is dizziness serious?

Written by: Mr Ibrahim Albert Srouji

Published: 02/07/2019 | Updated: 28/07/2023

Edited by: Laura Burgess

Dizziness itself is not often a cause for concern and generally tends to pass after a few moments. However, it can persist and is caused by the delicate relationship between the inner ear, the eyes and brain.

We’ve asked one of our top ENT surgeons, Mr Ibrahim Albert Srouji, to explain ear-related dizziness, when it needs to be checked by a specialist and how it can be managed.

When is dizziness serious?

There are many different and unrelated causes of dizziness. However, if your dizziness is caused by a problem in the ears, it is rarely serious. This is provided you refrain from driving or operating machinery when the dizzy episodes are sudden and debilitating and whilst we are carrying out investigations.

Other non-ear causes of dizziness can sometimes be serious, and when you attend my clinic we will go through some basic tests to determine how likely this is.

What has dizziness been described as feeling like?

In general, patients who have experienced dizziness that makes them feel weak, faint, have an unclear vision or a headache, are unlikely to have an ear-cause. Patients who have movement-type dizziness like spinning, being on a boat, or veering to one side when walking, may need to have their ears investigated.

Many people find dizziness extremely difficult to describe. Do not worry if this is the case for you, as when you attend my clinic we will carefully go through specific questions you may not have thought of. This will make the diagnosis clearer and guide your treatment.

When should I see an ear doctor?

If you have movement-type dizziness or your dizziness comes with an abnormal sensation in one ear, or your symptoms are mixed and you are not sure, you should book an appointment to see a specialist.

Your appointment will include a clinical assessment and some basic audiology (hearing) tests. This is because the hearing and balance organs are connected and the test can help reach a diagnosis even if you have not experienced a problem with your hearing.

At my clinic, following your initial appointment, I may recommend some helpful exercises or medications. Sometimes I will recommend scans or tests that look at the balance organ directly such as videonystagmography (VNG) and caloric measurements. All of these tests are available in one place here at the Mulberry clinic in Huntingdon.

Do not hesitate to book an appointment with Mr Ibrahim Albert Srouji if you’re concerned about ear-related dizziness.

By Mr Ibrahim Albert Srouji

Otolaryngology / ENT in Cambridgeshire

Mr Ibrahim Albert Srouji is a consultant surgeon who holds dual qualification in both ENT (ear, nose and throat) and facial plastic surgery. He completed the Fellowship examination of the Royal College of Surgeons of England (FRCS) in 2007 and is on the GMC specialist register. After graduating from the University of Southampton School of Medicine, Mr Srouji completed his surgical training in London, Cardiff, Cambridge, Amsterdam and the USA. Mr Srouji provides attentive and expert advi...

By Mr Ibrahim Albert Srouji
Otolaryngology / ENT

Mr Ibrahim Albert Srouji is a consultant surgeon who holds dual qualification in both ENT (ear, nose and throat) and facial plastic surgery. He completed the Fellowship examination of the Royal College of Surgeons of England (FRCS) in 2007 and is on the GMC specialist register. After graduating from the University of Southampton School of Medicine, Mr Srouji completed his surgical training in London, Cardiff, Cambridge, Amsterdam and the USA.

Mr Srouji provides attentive and expert advice on a wide range of the ear, nose and throat conditions. He is clinical lead for all children’s surgery at Hinchingbrooke Hospital and provides private adult children’s ENT surgery at his Cambridgeshire clinic. He has published articles in several peer-reviewed medical journals and presented his work at a number of prestigious meetings including the Royal Society of Medicine in London.

Mr Srouji is also the clinical lead of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough ENT Transformation Partnership. He is every day heavily involved in service improvement, modernisation of the patient pathway and enhancing patient experience.

Within the field of cosmetic surgery, Mr Srouji is a sub-specialist exclusively focusing on the more intricate facial areas such as rhinoplasty and facelifting. In 2009, he completed the UK Department of Health Interface Fellowship in Cosmetic and Reconstructive Surgery, the rigorous Board Examination of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery for international certification, and the full fellowship of the European Academy of Facial Plastic Surgery. He has extensive experience in nasal deformity and airway surgery and has to date carried out over 500 rhinoplasty procedures.

His dual qualifications in facial plastic surgery and ENT enable him to take care of both the aesthetic and functional aspects of the nose, achieving pleasing and natural aesthetic results whilst at the same time protecting the internal function of the nose.