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 may feel as if they are unsteady, moving, spinning or floating. While walking, people may feel as if they are tipping over or veering in either direction.
Primary symptoms include dizziness or a spinning sensation (vertigo), falling or feeling as if you are going to fall, lightheadedness, faintness, a floating sensation, blurred vision, confusion or disorientation. Other symptoms include nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, changes in heart rate and blood pressure, fear and anxiety or panic attacks.
These disorders can be caused by anything that affects the inner ear or the brain such as medications, ear infections or head injuries. The risk for balance disorders increases as we age.
What Are the Most Common Balance Disorders?
- Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) involves brief but intense periods of vertigo that are triggered by specific changes in head position. It occurs when tiny crystals in the ear become dislodged and move to an incorrect area of the ear (semicircular canals).
- Meniere’s disease is a chronic condition that causes episodes of vertigo, tinnitus, fullness in the ear and fluctuating hearing loss. Meniere’s is usually confined to one ear and is thought to be caused by abnormal fluid buildup in the inner ear.
- Labyrinthitis is an inflammation of the inner ear usually caused by an infection. Symptoms include vertigo, temporary hearing loss and tinnitus.
How Are Balance Disorders Treated?
In order to determine the appropriate treatment plan for you, your audiologist will need to evaluate and diagnose your symptoms. Once determined, your audiologist will target the underlying condition in order to reduce or eliminate the symptoms. Options include:
- Medications (antihistamines, sedatives, antibiotics or steroids).
- Physical or occupational therapy.
- Repositioning exercises.
- Vestibular retraining programs.
- Lifestyle modifications (such as dietary changes).
- Surgery.
Call Topeka ENT at 785-233-0500 for more information or to schedule an appointment.