Vestibular and Balance Disorders
A balance disorder is a condition that causes the sensation of dizziness or unsteadiness. It may cause a person to feel like they are spinning, floating or moving when they are lying down, sitting, standing or walking. The part of the inner ear that is responsible for our balance is called the vestibular system. The vestibular system interacts with other sensory organs in our bodies such as your vision and your musculoskeletal sensory system. When the signals from any of these sensory systems malfunction, you can experience vertigo, dizziness or balance issues. There are other systems in the body such as the central nervous system that can cause these symptoms. Therefore it is important to have a thorough examination and evaluation by an otolaryngologist to determine if your balance disorder is related to the vestibular system. Some of the testing used to identify balance disorders include an audiological evaluation, videonystagmography (VNG), imaging studies (MRI/CTscan) and posturography.
Symptoms of balance disorders may be intermittent or constant and last for long periods of time. Some of these symptoms include:
- Vertigo (a spinning sensation) or dizziness
- Falling or a feeling of falling
- Lightheadedness or faintness
- Floating sensation
- Blurred vision
- Staggering
- Confusion or disorientation
Other symptoms include changes in heart rate and blood pressure, nausea, vomiting, fear, anxiety, and panic. These symptoms can be very stressful to a person which can lead to depression, fatigue, and possible social isolation if left untreated.
There are many different balance disorders. The most common of these disorders include:
Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV): is an intense spinning sensation that is triggered by a specific movement of the head. The most common head positions that can trigger this is lying in bed and rolling over or tilting the head to look up or under something, it usually lasts for less than a minute. This vertigo is very treatable with canalith repositioning maneuvers such as the Epley Maneuver.
Vestibular Neuritis: is an inflammation of the vestibular nerve that causes vertigo. It is usually caused by a virus. This is the most common of all balance disorders.
Vestibular Migraines-is a type of migraine that can cause vertigo, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting with or without a headache.
Meniere’s disease-is a disease of the inner ear which can cause episodes of dizziness/vertigo, sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus (roaring) and aural fullness. It may be due to a buildup of fluids within the labyrinth of the vestibular system. However, the specific cause has not been determined.
Labyrinthitis –Is an inflammation or infection in the inner ear (labyrinth) that causes vertigo, balance issues and sensorineural hearing loss. It is often associated with an upper respiratory infection such as the flu.
Dizziness Questionnaire
It is very important to have a thorough evaluation from your otolaryngologist to determine if you have a balance disorder. If you answer “yes” to any of these questions, please contact our office to make an appointment. We can determine the best treatment for you.
-
Do I feel dizzy?
-
Do I feel as if the room is spinning or I am spinning?
-
Do I fall or loose balance frequently?
-
Do I have blurred vision?
-
Do feel lightheaded?
-
Do I have hearing loss? Or decreased hearing in one or both ears?
-
Do I have tinnitus (ringing) in the ears?
-
Do I have pressure or pain in the ears?
-
Do I have a sense of fullness in the ears?