Neurology, Addiction and Psychiatry Conference

Vestibular disorders affect the regions of the inner ear and brain that are in charge of balance and spatial orientation. They can seriously disturb a life, evoking manifestations of dizziness, vertigo, unsteadiness, and other symptoms impeding movement and coordination. The vestibular system is quite an important part of the sensory system of the human body; it controls balance, posture, and spatial orientation by processing inner ear information about movements of the eyes and body sensations.

Vertigo is the most common vestibular disorder, which consists of the sensation of being still when, in fact, one is spinning or dizzy. It is usually associated with inner ear disorders, such as benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, where small particles composed of calcium get lodged in the canals of the inner ear and disrupt normal balance signals to the brain. Other vestibular disorders include Meniere's disease, characterized by episodes of vertigo, ringing in the ears, hearing loss, and fullness in the ear, and vestibular neuritis, an inflammation of the vestibular nerve that causes sudden, intense dizziness.

Again, the etiologies of vestibular disorders are diverse and numerous-to include infections, head injury, aging, or genetic factors. Another cause of vertigo and dizziness is labyrinthitis, which is an infection or inner ear inflammation. Vestibular disorders occasionally occur in conjunction with health conditions, including migraines or other autoimmune diseases where elements affect parts of the nervous system.

The evaluation of vestibular disorders, among others, includes a set of tests to check the balance and hearing functions. These include the videonystagmography, which measures eye movements, and the caloric test, which tests the vestibular function in the inner ear. A proper diagnosis precedes the development of the treatment program.

The management of vestibular disorders will depend on the cause of the problem. VRT is very common since the method involves exercises designed to enhance vestibular function, minimize dizziness and optimize the brain's processing of the vestibular signals. Additionally, pharmacological therapy can be administered via some medication; for instance, when using antihistamines, corticosteroids, or anti-nausea drugs in the treatment of symptoms. Individuals with conditions such as BPPV may also benefit from canalith repositioning procedures since these procedures aim at moving the dislodged particles back into their proper position within the inner ear.

Vestibular disorders can thus have a very dramatic effect on the quality of life, but most patients can effectively manage their symptoms upon proper diagnosis and treatment.