Dizziness and balance problems can be a sign that you have sustained damage to your vestibular system. Damage can result from an ear infection, head trauma, disease or other disorders, such as benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. After your condition is diagnosed, your health-care provider may recommend rehabilitation therapy designed to retrain your brain to compensate for the problem or to correct the problem.
Vestibular System
Your vestibular system is made up of a group of sensory organs in your inner ear that measure the orientation and movement of your body. Problems with balance and dizziness can stem from deformities, damage or infection in the semicircular canal and otoliths of this system. A major role of the vestibular system is to orient your eyes when your head moves, known as the vestibulo-ocular reflex. When it is not working properly, ordinary activities can be challenging and uncomfortable.
Disorders
A variety of disorders can cause balance and vestibular problems. These include Meniere's disease, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, acoustic neuroma, vestibular neuronitis and labyrinthitis. While some disorders are temporary, others may produce symptoms that recur for the rest of your life. Although these disorders have distinct differences that are assessed during diagnosis, they all affect the inner ear in a way that causes dizziness and imbalance. In cases of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, granules break off and disrupt the fluid in your semicircular canals. In cases of Meniere's disease, fluid retention in your inner ear causes hearing loss and vertigo.
Rehabilitation
When you are diagnosed with a particular vestibular disorder, your doctor may prescribe medication, dietary changes and rehabilitation therapy. This commonly involves balance retraining exercises that are designed to retrain the brain's response to orientation, as well as the Epley maneuver, which is used to dislodge granules trapped in your semicircular canals. Vestibular rehabilitation therapists specialize in teaching patients how to handle daily activities that are hampered by balance issues. They customize a rehabilitation program retrain your eyes, brain and ears.
Diagnosis
Consult a health-care provider if your dizziness is prolonged or frequent. Signs that you have a balance problem and may benefit from vestibular rehabilitation therapy include difficulty walking in the dark and difficulty functioning after riding in a vehicle. Because some balance problems stem from a more serious health issue, your doctor will conduct a series of tests to determine the cause. This can include hearing, balance and blood tests, as well as medical-imaging studies.
