Vestibular rehab is an exercise program which is performed to eliminate/minimize dizziness and loss of balance due to an inner ear dysfunction. Our multidisciplinary balance assessment and treatment team provides patients with a comprehensive evaluation of dizziness, unsteadiness, vertigo, and fall prevention. We work closely with the audiologists at the Mary Rutan Hospital Ear, Nose & Throat facility to coordinate appropriate vestibular testing and rehab. Vestibular testing includes hearing evaluation and Videonystagmography Testing (VNG). VNG is a comprehensive test used to determine a person's dizziness. This test includes: eye and head movements and a caloric exam (warm and cool air presented into the ear canal).
Symptoms of inner ear dysfunction:
- Dizziness
- Lightheadedness
- Nausea or vomiting
- Loss of balance
- Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
- Hearing loss
- Fullness in the ear
- Visual disturbances
- Nystagmus (involuntary movement of the eyes)
- Vertigo (spinning sensation)
Common causes of dizziness:
- Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)
- Vestibular neuritis
- Labyrinthitis
- Perilymph fistula
- Bilateral vestibular dysfunction
- Head trauma
- Balance problems
- Ménière's disease
- Migraines
Treatment of dizziness:
- Particle repositioning maneuver in order to correct BPPV
- Balance retraining
- Eye and head coordination activities
- Habituation activities (method in which the brain reduces or compensates for dizziness through repeated stimulation)