Patient and Family Services
Pediatric Audiology
Balance Disorders/Dizziness
A healthy balance system is something most of us take for granted.
Unless your child is among the two million people every year
whose problems with balance, dizziness, lightheadedness, and
motion
sickness are serious enough to warrant medical attention.
What is a Balance Disorder?
If your child has a balance disorder, it may cause repeated
episodes of feeling unsteady, dizzy, lightheaded, or woozy.
Or, he or she may
experience sensations of spinning, movement, or floating. Most
balance disorders stem from a problem or injury of the inner
ear. Other causes include illness, head injury, medical conditions,
and medications.
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Symptoms of Balance Disorders
The most common symptoms of a balance disorder include:
Balance disorders may trigger other problems, such as:
-
Fear,
anxiety, or panic
-
Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
-
Changes in heart rate and blood
pressure
-
Fatigue
-
Depression
-
Impaired concentration
Take your child to a health professional immediately if he
or she experiences any of the following symptoms, which may signal
a more serious
problem:
-
Severe headache
-
Blurred vision
-
Hearing loss
-
Impaired speech
-
Numbness
- Chest pain
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Causes of Balance Disorders
Problems with balance and dizziness are commonly called
vestibular disorders because they
are regulated by the vestibular
system—a
tiny network of fluid-filled
tubes and sacs in the labyrinth
of each inner
ear. The vestibular system interacts with the eyes, bones and joints,
and the brain to regulate the body’s position or
orientation. Balance problems can result when these systems
fail to work together
properly.
Balance disorders, including dizziness, can stem from a variety
of causes. Some of the more common ones include:
-
Inflammation or infection of the inner ear
-
-
Acoustic
neuroma, a benign growth on the acoustic
nerve in the inner ear
-
A sudden drop in blood
pressure, which can cause dizziness or loss of balance
-
Changes
in motion, which can occur when riding in airplanes, cars,
amusement park rides and in other situations
which cause you to change directions suddenly
-
Medical conditions, including
arrhythmia, common colds, and pregnancy
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Diagnosing Balance Disorders
You should consult with a health professional
if your child's symptoms are severe,
persistent, or interfere with his or her safety.
A diagnosis may involve any or all
of the following:
- Detailed questions about your child's symptoms
- A review of your child's medical
history
- A complete physical examination
- An inventory of the medications your child may be taking
- An
audiological exam
- Other specialized tests, based on your child's particular
symptoms
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Treating Balance Disorders
Many balance and dizziness problems
go away after a short period of
time without
any
medical care.
Treatment
usually
is required
when symptoms are severe
or persistent. Treatment options,
which
depend on the
type, cause, and severity
of the
problem, may include:
- Medication.
Antibiotics are used to clear up inner ear infections
- Canalith
repositioning. This is a simple, non-invasive
procedure
for treating vertigo that is about 90% effective
- Balance retraining exercises.
Also called vestibular rehabilitation, these exercises help to
decrease dizziness and increase balance function by “training” the
central nervous system
to compensate for inner
ear
problems
- Lifestyle changes:
Treatment for Meniere's disease may include a sharp reduction of fluids
and salt
- Surgery: This is required occasionally to treat Meniere's disease
or to remove a growth
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