Balance & Dizziness

Understanding Dizziness

Dizziness can be a perplexing symptom to evaluate as it is a personal sensation that doesn't lend itself to objective measurement. It is often a blend of different sensations stemming from various pathophysiological processes.

When patients complain of dizziness, the first step towards effective treatment is to accurately categorize the type of dizziness they're experiencing. Given the patients' own difficulty in articulating their symptoms clearly, this can pose a significant diagnostic challenge. Therefore, understanding the different kinds of dizziness is crucial to obtaining a productive patient history.

Root Causes of Dizziness

Several conditions can trigger dizziness, including:

• Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)
• Labyrinthine concussion
• Vestibular Neuritis
• Labyrinthitis
• Meniere's disease
• Migraines

Addressing Balance Disorders

The treatment strategy for a balance disorder hinges largely on its root cause. Addressing the underlying cause often alleviates the balance problem. However, specific treatments can also help reduce symptoms.

Potential Treatments for Balance Disorders

These may include:

• Balance retraining exercises
• Lifestyle modifications, like reducing caffeine and alcohol intake
• Antibiotics for treating ear infections
• Medications to control vertigo and nausea

The Role of Diagnostic Tests in Balance and Hearing Disorders

With a broad spectrum of balance and hearing disorders, many of which share similar symptoms, it's crucial for an audiologist to make a precise diagnosis. This enables the formulation of a successful treatment strategy. Diagnostic testing forms a significant part of determining the condition causing a patient's distress.

Common Diagnostic Tests

A variety of diagnostic tests can help determine the cause of hearing and balance disorders. Here are some commonly employed ones:

• Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR): A neurologic test that offers insights into the electrical activity in the auditory pathway from the inner ear to the brain. It evaluates a person's hearing sensitivity.
• Electrocochleography: This test measures the electrical currents generated by sound stimulation to determine if there's excess fluid in the inner ear. It can assist in diagnosing Meniere's disease and other balance and hearing disorders.
• Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE): This test gauges the response of hair cells in the inner ear when stimulated, indicating the presence of conductive or cochlear hearing loss.
• Posturography: This balance test assesses the efficiency of the somatosensory system, vestibular system, and vision to pinpoint which area(s) should be the focus of balance disorder treatment.
• Videonystagmography: This test evaluates eye movements to assess the inner ear and central motor functions. It can determine if a balance problem is due to a vestibular disorder and whether one or both ears are affected.

These diagnostic tests are quick and painless, helping us diagnose and assess a range of hearing and balance disorders effectively. Reach out to us to schedule an appointment.