Balance

A balance disorder is a condition marked by the symptoms of feeling unsteady or dizzy. Even while standing, lying or sitting still, a person with a balance disorder will feel as if they are moving, spinning or floating. While walking, people may feel as if they are tipping over. Primary symptoms include dizziness or a…

With such a wide range of hearing and balance disorders, many of which have similar symptoms, it’s important for an audiologist to make an accurate diagnosis in order to come up with a successful treatment plan. Diagnostic testing plays an important role in determining the condition responsible for a patient’s suffering. Types of Diagnostic Tests…

Vertigo is a form of dizziness characterized by the feeling that you or your environment is moving or spinning, despite the lack of any actual movement. This sensation is brought on by disturbances in the inner ear or the brain. What Are the Types of Vertigo? Peripheral vertigo is associated with problems in the inner…

Vestibular testing involves a series of tests that are administered when you are experiencing dizziness. They are used to determine whether symptoms of dizziness are being caused by the balance system of the inner ear. Diagnostic Tests for the Vestibular System The vestibular system is complex and responsible for many of the body’s functions. In…

Dizziness, a blanket term used to describe any feeling of unsteadiness, is one of the leading health complaints in the United States, affecting an estimated nine million people annually. For those over the age of 70 it’s the top reason for a visit to the doctor’s office. What Are the Causes of Dizziness? Dizziness is…

Vestibular neuronitis is disease of the vestibular nerve that causes severe episodes of vertigo. The vestibular nerve is responsible for sending messages from the inner ear to the brain. If the vestibular nerves in each ear are sending different signals, the result is an inability to feel balanced. Vestibular neuronitis is most common in adults.…

Videonystagmography, or VNG testing, is an exam of the balance system. It is used to determine the cause of a patient’s dizziness. Specifically, it measures whether a balance disorder can be attributed to a vestibular deficit (inner ear disease). How Does VNG Testing Work? VNG testing uses a combination of video goggles and infrared cameras…

Ménière’s disease is an inner ear disorder that causes fluctuating hearing loss, tinnitus, vertigo and fullness or pressure in the ear. It is the result of excess fluid in the inner ear. What Causes Ménière’s Disease? The exact cause of Ménière’s disease is unknown. It is believed to be associated with a dysfunction of the…

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, commonly referred to as BPPV, is a vestibular disorder that causes vertigo. It occurs when calcium deposits in the inner ear become dislodged from the otolithic membrane and settle in the semicircular canals. Any change in the position of the head causes these tiny crystals to shift, triggering dizziness. What Causes…

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) is one of the leading causes of vertigo among U.S. patients; repositioning maneuvers fortunately make the condition very easy to treat in most people. Repositioning maneuvers take only five to ten minutes and successfully treat BPPV in 85 percent of patients in just a few treatments. BPPV occurs when tiny…