Balance and Dizziness
Dizziness is one of the most difficult complaints to assess because it is a subjective sensation that cannot be directly and objectively measured.
Balance & Dizziness
Dizziness is one of the most difficult complaints to assess because it is a subjective sensation that cannot be directly and objectively measured. Dizziness frequently represents many separate overlapping sensations that can be caused by a multitude of different pathophysiologic processes.
Evaluation and treatment of patients with dizziness will differ significantly once the category of dizziness has been determined. It is imperative that clinicians take a careful history to determine the type of dizziness prior to initiating further workup.
These patients are typically challenging from a diagnostic standpoint. Their own difficulty in providing a clear and succinct history adds to this challenge. It is helpful to have a solid understanding of the various types of dizziness in order to help obtain an informative history from patients.
Things that can cause dizziness
- Benign positional vertigo
- Labyrinthine infarction
- Vestibular neuronitis
- Labyrinthitis
- Meniere’s disease
- Migraine
Treatment for Balance Disorders
The prescribed treatment for a balance disorder depends on its cause, and treating the cause often eliminates the balance problem. The following treatments may also help to relieve symptoms:
- Balance-training exercises
- Lifestyle changes, such as limiting alcohol and caffeine
- Antibiotics for ear infections
- Anti-vertigo and anti-nausea medications
Aberdeen Audiology can help with the testing and certain types of treatment related to balance disorders. Contact us for more information.