I don’t think it has anything to do with your inner ear. Rather, I think it’s your brain being able to process and visualize input. I have significant issues with my inner ear and yet have an excellent sense of direction.
I use a combination of visual, kinesthetic, and touch senses for balance instead of my inner ear. Sound is situationally useful. If I know where the source of sound is in a room physical world, I can use that to estimate my position and direction in that room.
Of course, it’s possible there are multiple ways to have a good sense of direction. Mine works like a map. For other people it may just be an intuitive sense using a different type of analysis.
I use a combination of visual, kinesthetic, and touch senses for balance instead of my inner ear. Sound is situationally useful. If I know where the source of sound is in a room physical world, I can use that to estimate my position and direction in that room.
Of course, it’s possible there are multiple ways to have a good sense of direction. Mine works like a map. For other people it may just be an intuitive sense using a different type of analysis.