Balance and Vestibular Disorders

When considering balance issues, the inner ear is usually the last culprit on the list. But the inner ear and all surrounding tissue play a critical role in maintaining equilibrium and wellness in day-to-day life. The vestibulocochlear nerve sends signals to the brain that control hearing and help with balance, and any damage can be harmful.

While the ears play a critical role, other organs such as the eyes, joints and muscles work together to keep you steady and upright. When one stops working correctly, the entire body may suffer from a balance disorder.

Signs and Symptoms of Balance Disorders

The most common signs of a balance disorder include:

• Vertigo (a sense of motion or spinning)
• Presyncope (feeling of faintness or lightheadedness)
• Disequilibrium (loss of balance)
• Dizziness

These symptoms may cause other symptoms to manifest as well, such as:

• Involuntary eye movements or twitches
• Discomfort or difficulty looking at sun glare or lights (particularly fluorescent, flashing or moving lights)
• Discomfort in situations with busy visuals, such as patterns, crowds, heavy traffic or jam-packed areas like malls
• Depth perception disruptions that affect hand-eye coordination or eye-foot coordination

Impact of Balance Disorders

The signs and symptoms can lead to drastic impacts daily life as well. If your child is struggling with a balance disorder, he or she may also suffer with:

• Frequent headaches or migraines
• Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
• Motion sickness
• Changes in heart rate and blood pressure
• Fatigue
• Seizures
• Fear, anxiety, panic
• Depression

Suffering from a balance or vestibular disorder can create school troubles for your child as well, including difficulties with:

• Paying attention
• Concentrating
• Remembering things
• Hearing the teacher
• Following directions
• Focusing eyes on the board or books
• Competing well in PE or athletics

Causes of Balance Disorders

Not all balance disorders have a specific cause, but research has led to the following being associated with vestibular issues:

• Ear, head or neck injuries
• Ototoxicity (when certain medications damage the inner ear)
• Migraines
• Hearing loss
• Chronic middle ear infections (otitis media)
• Other infections (cold, flu, meningitis, measles, mumps or rubella)
• Seizure disorders