How Do I Know If I Have a Balance Disorder?

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How Do I Know if I Have a Balance Disorder? This article is adapted from information provided by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communications Disorders, (NIDCD).

Millions of individuals have disorders of sensation of spatial disorientation or balance they describe as “dizziness.” imbalance. Experts believe that more than four out of ten Americans will experience an Almost everyone experiences a few episode of dizziness significant enough to seconds of dizziness or disequilibrium at send them to a doctor. some point —for example, when a person stands on a train platform and What can be difficult for both a patient momentarily perceives an illusion of and his or her doctor is that the word moving as a train rushes past. However, “dizziness” is a subjective term. This for some people, symptoms can be means that the word can be used by intense and last a long time, affecting a people to describe different sensations person’s independence, ability to work, they are experiencing, but it is hard for and quality of life. anyone but the person experiencing the symptoms to understand or measure Balance disorders can be caused by the nature or severity of the sensations. medications or certain health conditions, In addition, people tend to use different including problems with the inner ear terms to describe the same kind of (vestibular) organs or the brain. problem. “Dizziness,” “vertigo,” and Dizziness, vertigo, and disequilibrium are “disequilibrium” are often used all symptoms that can result from a interchangeably, even though they have peripheral vestibular disorder (a different meanings. dysfunction of the balance organs of the inner ear) or central vestibular disorder Definitions (a dysfunction of one or more parts of the Describing your symptoms accurately can central nervous system that help process mean the difference between a successful balance and spatial information). diagnosis and one that is missed. Ask yourself… . Dizziness is a sensation of light- To help you decide whether you should headedness, faintness, or seek medical help for a balance problem unsteadiness. or dizzy spell, ask yourself the following . Vertigo is the perception of rotational questions. If you answer “yes” to any of movement or whirling—either of the these questions, talk to your doctor. self or surrounding objects. . Do I feel unsteady? . Disequilibrium is the loss of equilibrium. It can be experienced as a © Vestibular Disorders Association ◦ www.vestibular.org ◦ Page 1 of 3

. Do I feel as if the room is spinning Balance disorders may lead to other around me? problems including fatigue, difficulty . Do I feel as if I’m moving when I walking, or disinterest in everyday and know I’m sitting or standing still? leisure activities. If you or your child, parent, friend, or co-worker has a . Do I lose my balance and fall? balance problem, take it seriously. Talk to . Do I feel as if I’m falling? the doctor about what happens when the . Do I feel lightheaded or as dizziness or imbalance occurs. Be as if I might faint? careful as possible in describing the . Do I have blurred vision? symptoms. . Do I ever feel disoriented, such as losing my sense of time or where I Definitions: am? Dizziness: A sensation of lightheadedness, How can I help my doctor make a faintness, or unsteadiness. diagnosis? Vertigo: The perception of rotational You can help your doctor make a movement or whirling—either of the self or diagnosis and determine a treatment plan surrounding objects. by filling in the information called for in Disequilibrium: The loss of equilibrium. It the list below. You may want to jot down can be experienced as a sensation of spatial your responses to help you prepare for disorientation or imbalance. your appointment with your doctor. Spatial disorientation: A sensation of not . The best way I can describe my knowing where one’s body is in relation to the dizziness or balance problem is: … vertical and horizontal planes. . How often do I feel dizzy or have trouble keeping my balance? © Vestibular Disorders Association . Have I ever fallen? If so, when, where, how often, and under VEDA’s publications are protected under what conditions? copyright. For more information, see our . These are the medicines I take: … permissions guide at www.vestibular.org.

This document is not intended as a substitute Take balance disorders seriously. for professional health care.

PO BOX 13305 · PORTLAND, OR 97213 · FAX: (503) 229-8064 · (800) 837-8428 · [email protected] · WWW.VESTIBULAR.ORG

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