UNDERSTANDING Vertigo, Imbalance, and Motion Sickness

The key to life is BALANCE

Dizziness or loss of balance is the second most common complaint heard in doctors’ offices. The National Institute of Health statistics indicated population at sometime in their lives. Although very common, acute or chronic problems with equilibrium may indicate serious health risks, or limit a person’s everyday living.
Equilibrium disorders may be described in two categories. The first is dizziness, vertigo, or motion intolerance that may occur in acute or sharp attacks lasting only seconds or sometimes for hours. This may simply be caused or worsened by rapid head movements, turning too quickly or while walking or riding. The second is a sense of imbalance, unsteadiness, or what some people referred to as a loss of sure-footedness.
The good news is that diagnosis and treatment have been changing dramatically over the past ten years, and now there is hope for many whom once thought there might be no relief.

Loss of balance

Loss of balance and unsteadiness are changes often seen as a function of aging, Fear of falling is the number one health concern of individuals in their later years. The fear appears not be unfounded as the National Institute of Health statistics indicated that balance related falls account for half of the accidental deaths in the population over 65/ In addition, nearly 300,000 hip fractures and $3 billion dollars in medical expenses are due to balance related falls.

Human equilibrium is a complex interaction which requires correct input form three sensory receptors…the inner ear, vision and somatosensory (contact with the earth as perceived by our feet, muscles and joints.). All three signals must then be correctly received by our central nervous system. Then the cerebellum, which is the motor control portion of the brain, must execute the correct movement of our musculoskeletal system, so that we may maintain our center of gravity. Of any one or several components of this complicate system do not work properly, then we have a loss of sure-footedness or movement coordination.

The natural aging process may affect any one or all of these senses, as well as the central nervous system’s ability to interpret them and then to react quickly. It is very common to hear from someone who has fallen say that they saw the curb or step, but just were not able to react fast enough to keep their balance.

With proper diagnosis and therapeutic exercises, called Balance Retraining, many older adults are able to return to a more active lifestyle.

Did you know…?

• Vertigo, dizziness, or imbalance will affect 90 million Americans sometime during their lifetime.
• Each year, over 9 million people consult their doctors with complaints of dizziness, the number one malady for those over 70.
• Balance related falls account for more than one-half of the accidental deaths in the elderly.
• Balance related falls cause over 300,000 hip fractures a year in individuals over 65 years of age.
• Some forms of inner ear disorders, such as Meniere’s Disease, benign positional vertigo, perilymph fistula, and endolymphatic hydrops, have symptoms that are virtually indistinguishable to most people.
• Because imbalance and vertigo can affect a person’s ability to stand and walk, to see clearly , to read, to watch television, to make decisions, and to think clearly, diagnosis are sometimes misdiagnosed a multiple sclerosis and clinical depression.
• Children with treatable vestibular disorders are sometimes incorrectly diagnosed as a learning disabled, dyslexic, or psychologically disturbed.
• Blows to the heard a whiplash are frequent causes of imbalance and vertigo.
• Ear infections, such as otitis media, can also lead to vestibular disorders.

South Shore Hearing Center is proud to be an Affiliate of The American Institute of Balance® The institute is nationally and internationally know for it’s expertise in testing an rehabilitation, helping thousands of patients who were told “learn to live with it” to return to normal lives. The Institute’s evaluation protocols and therapy programs are used by; physicians, audiologists, therapists, clinics, and hospitals worldwide.

Source: © The American Institute of Balance website © www.dizzy.com

Dizziness, Vertigo, Motion Intolerance

The primary organ of equilibrium in the human body is located in the inner ear. The fluid filled inner ear serves as both the sense organ for spatial orientation and head movement as well as hearing. The inner ear is referred to as the labyrinth or vestibular system. There is a set of three semi-circular canals, and other structures in each ear. It is the movement of the fluid through the canals, which constantly informs the brain as to the direction and the speed at which the head is moving. The vestibular system then directs the movement of the eyes to correspond with the head movement.
If for any reason there is an abnormal increase or decrease in the signal being sent to the brain, from any of the balance canals, the brain will perceive this as an exaggeration or hallucination of motion. The results are what we commonly term dizziness or vertigo.
Illness, infections, disease, head trauma, or simply the natural aging process may cause changes in the equilibrium portion of the inner ear. For others, motion sickness may be traced to their early childhood. Motion intolerance my be in the from a sense of exaggerated motion, especially while trying to focus the types, or an inability to watch moving objects while the person is stationary, such as an escalator or rapidly moving traffic.
Although symptoms may only last for several days it is not uncommon if left undiagnosed to untreated to linger for years. The good news is that according to the National Institute of Health, 90% of all causes of dizziness can be found after a thorough evaluation. 85% are caused by inner ear disturbance and can be treated medically, surgically, or with Vestibular Rehabilitation.

American Institute of Balance® Patient Self Quiz

90 Million Americans will experience dizziness or balance problems sometime in their lives. Listed below are common complaints or problems reported by patients.

• A feeling of motion, spinning, or falling when moving your head quickly, or changing your position, e.g. getting in and out of bed?
• Uncomfortable trying to get around in the dark?
• Walking down grocery store aisle or through the mall is upsetting?
• Your feet just won't go where you want them to?
• A sense of unsteadiness?
• A feeling you are not sure-footed?
• A fear of falling or stumbling?
• Looking at moving objects such as escalators or looking out the side window of a car makes you queasy?
• Difficulty keeping your balance as you walk on different surfaces, e.g. tile to carpet?
• A feeling like you are drifting or being pulled to one side when walking?
• No one really understands how frustrating all this is?

If you answered "yes" to one or more of these questions, a vestibular and equilibrium evaluation by a licensed audiologist at South Shore Hearing Center should be considered.