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).