The cause of scleroderma (also called systemic sclerosis) is unknown. This disease causes thickening of tissues in organs such as the skin, stomach/intestines, lungs, kidneys, brain, and nerves. Occasionally, patients with scleroderma will develop hearing loss, tinnitus, or disequilibrium. In patients already diagnosed with scleroderma, it is medically reasonable to screen for other, more common causes of such symptoms. There is no cure for scleroderma, but when scleroderma seems to be the cause of those symptoms, it is reasonable to consult with an audiologist or vestibular physical therapist.