The vestibular system is involved with controlling balance
and eye movements. However, if disease or injury damages the vestibular system,
vestibular disorders occur.
Common Symptoms
A lot of adults living with vestibular disorders often go
undiagnosed and remain untreated, resulting in a diminished quality of life.
People who suffer from vestibular disorders experience:
·
Lightheadedness or dizziness
·
Positional or persistent vertigo
·
Nausea
·
Impaired postural control
Consequences
The main symptoms of vestibular disorders are vertigo,
dizziness and lightheadedness. This leads to physical, emotional and cognitive
consequences. The physical complications that people suffer from are often
addressed by a physician. However, the mental and emotional consequences that
patients go through have only recently become a hot topic of discussion.
About 50% patients suffering from vestibular disorder, find
themselves battling with some form of psychological illnesses such as
depression and anxiety.
Treatment
Vestibular disorder can be treated with vestibular
rehabilitation therapy, which can help alleviate both primary and
secondary problems caused by vestibular disorders. The entire treatment is
based on exercises designed to reduce vertigo, dizziness, gaze instability,
imbalance and falls. However, for some people the restoration of vestibular
order is limited because that damage they have received is permanent and beyond
treatment.
