Dizziness and Balance Disorder Treatment

Determining the proper treatment for dizziness and imbalance symptoms requires pinpointing their cause. Treating the condition without knowing the cause can be ineffective as well as a waste of your time, effort and money.

Proper diagnosis is crucial for creating the right treatment. In many cases, your physician(s) has already ruled out many medical causes for your symptoms that are treatable with medicine or surgery. Some of you may have been prescribed medication that has (without you knowing) made you worse or kept you from getting better.  Some of our patients were told “you’re just getting old”.  This was even told to one patient who is 46 years young!  Even if you are 106, dizziness and imbalance is not because “you’re just getting old”.  Reflexes slow as we age. Different parts of the balance system are changed by the aging process, but this should not result in imbalance that is noticable unless you happen to walk tightropes for a living!

By the time a typical patient finds the Hearing and Balance Institute of the Rockies, Inc., they have:

• Seen four or more physicians regarding their dizziness or balance problem
• Had at least one CT scan or MRI
• Had one emergency room visit, and often admitted to the hospital
• Referred once for psychiatric evaluation
• Spent more than four years searching for a remedy to their dizziness/balance problem

Once your evaluation is completed, your results will be discussed in detail with you and whether further evaluation is needed. Your treatment options will be carefully reviewed with you and your questions answered.  This may happen the same day as your visit or as soon as all your data is analyzed and evaluated.

Treatment Options

Note: If you were referred from your physician, all evaluation results and recommendations will be sent to them in a full report.  A full written report will be mailed to you with your written consent.  Your health information will only be disclosed to the parties you designate with your written consent.

Canalith Repositioning Treatment (CRT) or Canalith Repositioning Procedure (CRP)

If your diagnosis includes Benign Paroxysmal Positioning Vertigo (BPPV), the treatment will likely include Canalith Repositioning (CRT/CRP). This treatment involves your Doctor of Audiology, placing your head and body in different specific positions in order to move the loose crystals into the proper place in your inner ear for absorption so they no longer cause dizziness. There are many different types of maneuvers to treat BPPV and one or more will be chosen depending on the type of BBPV, your mobility and health.  The maneuvers include:

• Epley Maneuver
• Semont Liberatory Maneuver
• Log Roll aka Bar-B-Q roll or Lempert Roll
• Nutti Maneuver
• Gufoni Maneuver
• Vannucchi-Asprella Liberatory Maneuver
• Casani Maneuver
• Appiani Maneuver

Vestibular Rehabilitation

Physical therapy is the most effective treatment for vestibular/balance disorders.

The treatment is based on both the diagnosis and the symptoms. Depending on the available function of the vestibular, visual and somatosensory systems, exercises will be undertaken that focus on one or a combination of the following:

• Adaptation
• Habituation
• Substitution
• Gait
• Strength and mobility
• Home safety

These exercises may be done in conjuction with other necessary physical therapy.  The exercises may be done as a combination of office visits in combination with home exercises or primarily at home. NOTE: Very few physical therapists are certified in this area of expertise.  Many claim to be trained or educated and experienced in vestibular rehabilitation and balance disorders after only taking a seminar. You will be assured of only the best therapy with certified and experienced vestibular and balance therapists.

Medical or Surgical Treatment

Depending on your diagnosis, you may require treatment from a neurotologist or otologist. Since some otologists and neurotologists specialize in different areas, you will receive specific referrals to only the correct specialist for your needs by the Hearing and Balance Institute.  If you require treatment by other specialists, recommendations will all be made to your physician. Copies of your examinations will be sent to specialists only with your written permission.  If you were referred from your physician or specialist for evaluation, recommendations will be made to your physician for your treatment or additional evaluation.

Psychological Treatment

Depression, anxiety and stress can occasionally cause dizziness or imbalance, but psychological issues are actually rare as the only cause.  Depression, anxiety and stress can and often do contribute to symptoms of dizziness and imbalance. The world is not supposed to move, and no one enjoys feeling unstable. Just fighting to not feel dizzy or imbalanced is exhausting; leaving you less able to deal with life’s other challenges. Dizziness and imbalance eventually takes a psychological toll, it is important to seek treatment immediately. Taking proper care of your psychological health helps you more effectively manage and treat your dizziness or imbalance disorder.  We work with several excellent specialists that are familiar with dizziness and balance disorders and the challenge coping with these problems and overcoming them can give to life.  Having counseling while undergoing dizziness and balance treatment can speed recovery so you can rejoin the life you want and had before dizziness or imbalance.