There is no determined cause of a vestibular disorder. Since the ear is known to be a sensitive place, there could be many factors that play into the cause of a disorder. However, there are multiple risk factors that go along with suffering from a vestibular disorder. The biggest risk factor that is the most common finding for a vestibular disorder is aging. As the body ages, things can become more fragile and weaker. The canals in the ears can shrink over time causing them to become more sensitive and prone to injury. Shrinking of the ear canals can also cause a person pain in their ears, as well tinnitus. Another risk factor is listening to very loud music in high decibels for a long period of time. This can cause the ears to become damaged and make it hard to hear for a prolonged period of time. The next risk factor is the number of times a person has been exposed to an ear infection, or if they have chronic ear infections. Ear infections can cause inflammation and a buildup of earwax along the canal. When people try to clean their ears with an inappropriate tool such as a Q-tip, it can push wax further down their ear canal and cause a pressure build up. If a person has an ear infection and cleans their ears incorrectly or does not have access to an antibiotic to help kill the infection, it can lead to developing a vestibular disorder.