Common Signs & Symptoms Of Vestibular Disorders

At NeuraPerformance Brain Center, one of our focuses is on vestibular rehabilitation to help the brain overcome its limitations. A vestibular disorder can result from damage to the vestibular system (inner ear and brain area), aging, disease, or injury. Overcoming the common signs and symptoms of vestibular disorders begins with diagnosis. Keep an eye out for the following signs in yourself or a loved one if you suspect a vestibular disorder.

Dizziness & Vertigo

Not surprisingly, sufferers of vestibular disorders often experience an insistent spinning sensation and also experience vertigo, which is that balance-compromising feeling you get when looking down from very high up. This dizziness might also present as lightheadedness, a sense of rocking back and forth or floating, or feeling weighted toward a certain direction.

Balance

Changes in balance are common indicators. Lack of balance presents in the ways you would expect, with stumbling steps, a lack of coordination (uncharacteristic clumsiness), a need to continuously glance at the ground, an inability to stand without holding onto something, and more. Being unable to find stability while standing among a crowd or in an open space can also indicate a vestibular disorder.

Vision

Vestibular disorders mostly affect things related to balance and the movement of the eyes, so vision is often affected. Typical symptoms related to vision include difficulty focusing, difficulty reading because the words appear blurry or tend to float/jump around, and increased difficulty seeing at night. In addition to these signs, a person may also experience discomfort in busy or crowded places, sensitivity to light and certain types of screens, and diminished depth perception.

Hearing

When vestibular disorders have auditory symptoms, they typically include a loss, distortion, or fluctuation of hearing ability, symptoms of tinnitus (such as persistent ringing, buzzing, or whooshing sounds in the ear), and being sensitive to loud sounds. You or your loved one might also experience a worsening of your dizziness, vertigo, or lack of balance symptoms caused by a shocking, sudden loud noise.

Cognition

Most of the aforementioned symptoms are in some way physical in nature, but vestibular disorders are also known to cause cognitive symptoms, such as trouble with concentration or being easily distractible, being forgetful or struggling with short term memory, consistent confusion or disorientation, trouble following instructions, trouble paying attention to who’s speaking while talking to others, and disproportionate physical or mental fatigue.  

Psychological

In addition to possible cognitive symptoms, sufferers may also experience psychological symptoms. When the emotional and psychological toll of all of the above signs of vestibular disorders are considered, it is not difficult to understand how some of these symptoms might emerge. The psychological symptoms include anxiety and depression, a lack of socialization, and a lack of self-esteem and self-reliance.

If you suffer from a vestibular condition, rehabilitation can help! At our trusted brain center, we have a variety of technologies to aid in your treatment, including the GyroStim, an amazing technology that promotes neuroplasticity in the brain. Contact us to learn more about your GyroStim treatment options.