The cochleovestibular system is unique in that the peripheral labyrinth subserves two senses, hearing and balance, while the central auditory and vestibular connections diverge within the central nervous system and interact with a multiplicity of information from other sensory inputs. During the seventh decade of life, approximately 40% of people in Great Britain have a significant hearing impairment while in the eighth decade of life this figure rises to 60%. By the age of 65, 35% of people have experienced episodes of dizziness and by the age of 80, two-thirds of women and one-third of men have suffered episodes of vertigo. The elderly population is reported to be increasing by approximately 30% every 20 years and the prevalence of vertigo and hearing loss has been reported to rise in parallel with advancing age.