Balance
Dizziness is the number one complaint for individuals over age 70, and according to the National Institute of Health, roughly 90 million Americans seek help from a healthcare provider due to balance, vertigo or dizziness problems.
Balance disorders typically fall into two categories:
- Acute: an attack of dizziness, vertigo, or loss of balance, with symptoms that last a few seconds to a few hours
- Chronic: a persistent sense of imbalance, unsteadiness, with symptoms lasting days to years
Once a proper diagnosis for the underlying cause of dizziness or imbalance is made, Johns Hopkins University reported that approximately 85% of these diagnoses can be helped. Vertigo, for example, is a common symptom many individuals experience on a daily basis, often times due to a change in head or body position. Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) is one of the simplest diagnoses to treat and can currently be corrected in our office through head/body maneuvers or Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy (VRT).
Falls are a large public health issue, and research continues to demonstrate a link between a higher risk of falling and hearing loss. Your ears provide critical information to the brain about spatial orientation, which makes postural control and normal gait possible. Sound information is hence used as “auditory reference points” to help maintain balance. We know those with a hearing loss are at a higher risk of falling, and resultantly may suffer from feelings of unsteadiness. We are passionate about helping individuals resume normal daily activities without having a fear of falling.
Download our balance intake form here.