The Loose Women presenter’s sudden bout of vertigo during a pilates class has drawn attention to the link between ear health and balance – and the importance of early intervention.
When Kaye Adams felt the room spin around her in the middle of a pilates class, she feared the worst. The 62-year-old Loose Women presenter later learned she had experienced vertigo, a common but unsettling condition that can often be traced back to the inner ear.
Adams described the experience as “like a Tom and Jerry cartoon, with birds spinning around my head.” The sudden dizziness and loss of balance, she said, left her “really scared” and convinced she might be having a stroke.
Further medical assessment revealed the true cause: benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), one of the most common forms of vertigo. The condition occurs when tiny calcium crystals inside the inner ear become dislodged, disrupting the ear’s balance signals to the brain.
The NHS defines vertigo as the sensation that either you or your surroundings are moving or spinning, often accompanied by nausea and unsteadiness.
Targeted therapies
Adams admitted she was surprised by the “really weird” head movements and exercises prescribed to treat her symptoms. These are designed to reposition the dislodged ear crystals.
Vestibular physiotherapists and audiology specialists often use targeted therapy to retrain the brain’s balance mechanisms, helping patients restore stability and confidence in daily life.
“The right assessment and exercises can make a dramatic difference,” said Irene Wong, a clinical audiologist at Hearology®. “Vertigo can be frightening, but in many cases it’s treatable once the underlying cause in the inner ear is identified.”
A pattern of ear-related issues
This wasn’t Adams’ first ear-related scare. In early 2023, she suffered sudden hearing loss in her right ear just before going on air. Fearing permanent damage, she rushed to A&E, where doctors discovered a large earwax blockage. Once removed, her hearing returned to normal, ending what she called “the most traumatic 48 hours.”
Earwax may seem trivial, but excessive build-up can cause a range of symptoms, from muffled hearing and tinnitus to dizziness and vertigo. In some cases, this so-called “earwax vertigo” results from pressure on the eardrum or getting water trapped behind a wax block in the ear.
Raising awareness of hearing health
Since those incidents, Adams has become an advocate for ear and hearing care, encouraging people to book regular hearing tests and take hearing changes seriously. Many adults delay testing despite noticing difficulties, leading to unnecessary anxiety and social withdrawal.
Clinicians are increasingly highlighting the connection between hearing and balance disorders. Both rely on the intricate structures of the inner ear, meaning that issues such as infection, inflammation or wax build-up can affect both systems simultaneously.
A timely reminder
Adams’ openness about her experiences has helped shine a light on an often-overlooked aspect of health. Sudden dizziness or hearing changes should always be assessed by a professional, as early diagnosis can prevent complications and speed recovery.
References
Loose Women's Kaye Adams feared she was having a stroke after being struck by 'horrible' affliction during a Pilates class - Daily Mail report on Adams’s fears after her dizzy spell
Dizziness, Pilates, and Hope - A 62-year-old pilates instructor writes about how vestibular physical therapy and pilates significantly improved her balance and dizziness
Can Ear Wax Cause Vertigo? Understanding the Connection - How excessive earwax can lead to symptoms like earache, hearing loss, tinnitus, dizziness and vertigo
