Our ears are one of the most complex anatomies in the human body and also host our balance organs (vestibular system).
There are disorders within our vestibular system that can affect people’s balance, plus cause episodes of dizziness or migraines. You may have heard of people suffering from Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) before, which is the most common type of vertigo people experience. However, it can be caused by multiple other factors which we can screen for.
Symptoms can feel like dizziness or fuzziness if someone moves their head a certain way, sometimes accompanied by headaches or pressure in the head. Everyone describes their balance problems differently. Sometimes it means one ear is weaker in the balance system than another, or there might be an underlying condition causing these symptoms.
Our Audiologists are specially trained to assess and treat common balance disorders such as vertigo.
We offer two types of balance appointments:
1. Balance Assessment and Hearing Test – $240 (100mins)
2. Vertigo Rehabilitation – $80 (40-minutes)
1. Balance Assessment & Hearing Test
This is a vestibular triage assessment so we can see what the cause of your balance problems might be, and refer on to the correct teams, typically Ear Nose and Throat, Neurology or Physiotherapy. This is best for people who have been suffering from ongoing dizziness for a while and aren’t sure of the cause.
This appointment involves:
- A diagnostic hearing test (a check of the outer, middle and inner ear).
- Nine seated tests which check for various abnormalities in the vestibular organs and brain.
- Two standing tests which involve balancing or moving in a certain position.
- Two vertigo tests. The vertigo tests include lying in various positions on our treatment bed and gentle movements of the head and neck.
We can test and treat people over 4 years old with reasonable mobility.
2. Vertigo Rehabilitation
Benign vertigo (BPPV) can happen to anyone, any time. It’s often sudden and acute, with no necessary history of balance problems.
The biggest indicator of vertigo is the “world is spinning” feeling. Vertigo can feel TERRIBLE, people feel like they’re about to be sick. Imagine the worse seasickness you can, but the whole boat is spinning around.
Please call us ASAP if someone is suffering from a sudden onset of vertigo and we will try to squeeze them in that day for rehabilitation.
In this appointment type we would just perform the two last tests in the Balance Assessment specifically for vertigo. We can figure out which part of the vestibular system is causing the vertigo and treat it with specific head/neck movements.
Results are usually immediate.
We can test and treat people over 4 years old with reasonable mobility.
How to tell the difference between a balance disorder vs vertigo (BPPV)?
1. BPPV:
- Typically a sudden onset
- World is spinning
- No major history of balance problems
2. A balance disorder:
- Symptoms are on/off for a period of time
- Doesn’t have sudden phases nor ‘spinning’
- Often has headaches or pressure