Understanding Balance Disorder: Causes, Diagnosis, and Treatment

Balance disorder can have a major impact on your life. This disorder can cause dizziness, unsteadiness, and even falling down. It is important for you to be aware of their causes and symptoms, which we have discussed below. Here, we have also discussed about the diagnosis and treatment for balance disorder.

What is Balance Disorder?

Disorders in balance affect individuals with unsteadiness and dizziness as if they are spinning, even when they are completely still. It can be said that these disorders come into existence when systems that maintain balance in the body, such as the inner ear, vision, and sensory nerves, do not work efficiently. They would indeed disrupt the ability to perform daily activities with fall risk and injury.

What are the Symptoms of Balance Disorder?

The symptoms of balance disorder can vary and depend on the causes. If you notice any kind of symptoms in you that are discussed below, you need to seek professional help immediately. Here are some symptoms of balance disorder:

Dizziness or vertigo (spinning sensation).
Feeling faint or lightheaded.
Unsteadiness or a feeling of falling.
Nausea and vomiting.
Blurred vision or difficulty focusing.
Difficulty walking or maintaining a straight posture.
Confusion or disorientation.

What Causes Balance Disorder?

There are several factors that can cause balance disorder, including:

Inner ear issues: Problems in the inner ear vestibular system, such as infections or fluid, could cause disruptions to balance.

Injuries: Head injuries or concussions may cause balance-related conditions.

Aging: The normal wear and tear on sensory systems with advancing age can contribute to balance disorders.

Neurological conditions: Disorders like Parkinson’s disease or multiple sclerosis can impair balance.

Certain medications: Certain drugs that affect the inner ear or the nervous system will cause dizziness or unsteadiness.

Low blood pressure: Sudden changes in blood pressure may lead to appearing light-headed and in the balance.

Chronic illnesses: Diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and arthritis can influence balance problem cases.

What are the Types of Balance Disorder?

Balance disorders encompass various conditions that affect different parts of the balance system. Below are the most common types:

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)

BPPV refers to small, moving calcium particles in the inner ear that can cause problems in balance. It usually leads to very short episodes of lightheadedness, occurring when the head changes position.

Labyrinthitis

Labyrinthitis occurs due to an infection in the inner ear. It causes inflammation of the labyrinth and affects balance and hearing. Symptoms are dizziness, vertigo, and loss of hearing.

Ménière’s Disease

Ménière’s disease is a chronic disease-caused condition and is associated with vertigo, ringing in the ears, or tinnitus, and associated with loss of hearing due to the accumulation of fluid within the inner ear.

Vestibular Neuronitis

Vestibular neuronitis is inflammation of the vestibular nerve; it is caused by viral infection most frequently. Its symptoms include severe vertigo and nausea associated with balance problems but do not involve hearing impairment.

Perilymph Fistula

This occurs when fluid leaks from the inner ear into the middle ear, which is often due to trauma, surgery, or pressure changes. Patients typically report dizziness and unsteadiness.

Mal de Debarquement Syndrome (MdDS)

MdDS is the distinct feeling of having been taxed by extensive travel via ship or airplane. After this mode of travel, patients are rocked or swayed, even though they are no longer traveling.

How to Diagnose Balance Disorder?

Diagnosing a balance disorder involves a holistic diagnostic approach because disturbances are normally attributed to several factors, such as the inner ear, the brain, or sometimes even to other underlying conditions. Here are some important diagnostic procedures explained in great detail:

Hearing Tests

Hearing tests such as audiometry evaluate whether hearing loss or inner ear problems are involved in the balance problem. The inner ear is important as much for hearing as for balance. A dysfunction of the inner ear usually presents as unsteadiness or dizziness.

Patients are fitted with headphones, and different tones will sound, and the patient identifies the quietest level considered audible to them: Laboratory tests will define irregularities in hearing that justify the premise of an inner ear disorder such as labyrinthitis or Ménière’s disease.

Posturography Tests

Posturography tests a variety of conditions by which a subject maintains balance, measuring this control through vision, inner ear action, and the body’s movements.

For example, a patient can now stand on a moving and/or tilting platform while sensors record alterations in body weight distribution and position. The results indicate whether a person’s visual or sensory systems function as compensating systems for deficient inner ear function.

Videonystagmography (VNG)

This modality offers specialized testing to reveal eye movement patterns from which a diagnosis is made for the vestibular system disorder. The system works well with the vestibular system and eyes. Therefore, when eye movement is abnormal, it would also suggest a balance problem.

Patients are fitted with goggles that contain cameras and then asked to follow visual test stimuli or change head position so that their eye movements will be captured, while abnormal results may indicate the presence of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV).

Rotary Chair Test

A balancing test detects rotation and its effects on inner ear movements. When indications of injury to the vestibular zone are observed.

The subjects were seated in a rotating chair that revolved at various speeds. Sensors picked up movements of the eyes, not intentionally ones called nystagmus, as being triggered due to rotation speed for evaluation of the portion of the internal ear related to balance in functionality.

Dix-Hallpike Maneuver

This is a physical test usually done to diagnose BPPV. It’s done to find out whether or not certain changes in position produce dizzy spells or vertigo.

The patient is swiftly moved from sitting to lying down with the head tilted to one side. The observer monitors for vertigo and certain eye movements (nystagmus), which indicate displaced calcium crystals in the inner ear.

Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potential (VEMP) Tests

By using the VEMP tests, the otolith organs of the vestibular organs and their function may be assessed because of a linear acceleration and gravitational pull. To find out whether the actual cause of the balance disturbances has resulted from a malfunction of the apparatus.

Muscle responses triggered by sound stimuli transmitted through headphones are recorded with small electrodes placed on face or neck muscles. Vestibular pathology can be detected through abnormal responses.

Imaging Tests

MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) or CT (Computed Tomography) scans are capable of providing some very detailed pictures showing the inner ear and brain parts. To reveal the abnormal structures, tumors, or nerves so damaged possibly might have been the cause of the imbalance diseases.

This brings patients under a scanner that does cross-sectional views inside of the inner ear, brain, or blood vessels. The results may reveal tumors such as acoustic neuromas or brain lesions affecting balance.

Blood Pressure and Heart Rate Tests

These tests rule out some cardiac causes of dizziness and balance problems. Find out whether hypotension (low blood pressure) or arrhythmias (irregular heart rate) cause lightheadedness or fainting.

Measuring the patient’s blood pressure and heart rate when they are lying down, sitting, and standing will catch any abrupt drops or discrepancies.

When Should You Seek Help?

You should seek help for your balance disorder if you experience persistent symptoms such as dizziness, unsteadiness, or vertigo. It is important to get immediate professional help if balance issues are accompanied by severe headaches, fainting, double vision, or chest pain. In fact, these can get into a more serious condition later on.

Balance Disorder: Treatment and Management

Treatment for balance disorders depends on the cause. Options include:

Medications

There are certain medications that are prescribed to reduce this balance disorder and their symptoms, like dizziness, nausea, or inflammation.

Example:

Vestibular suppressants: medications like meclizine or diazepam help reduce dizziness.
Anti-nausea drugs can manage vomiting or nausea associated with balance disorders.
Steroids or antibiotics are used in cases of inflammation or infections like labyrinthitis.

Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy (VRT)

Vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT) is a special kind of physical therapy that is designed to retrain the brain and improve balance. It helps patients enhance coordination and reduce dizziness.

You should focus on head movements, balance training, or gaze stabilization.

Lifestyle Adjustments

You need to make some adjustments in your lifestyle on a daily basis. This can reduce the impact of balance disorders.

You should avoid rapid head movements, as they can cause dizziness. Reduce your intake of caffeine, alcohol, and salt, especially for conditions like Ménière’s disease. Always keep yourself hydrated.

Canalith Repositioning Procedures (CRP)

CRP is a technique that is specifically used for treating Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV). It is used to move displaced calcium crystals (canaliths) in the inner ear back to their correct position.

At Dr. Geetanjali Physioworks, our professional healthcare will guide you through some series of head and body movements, such as the Epley maneuver.

Surgery

If you are having rare and severe cases, then it becomes necessary to get surgery. It is important to correct structural abnormalities or remove tumors. Surgeries like labyrinthectomy and vestibular nerve section help in this disorder.

Cognitive and Behavioral Therapy

Balance disorders can lead to anxiety or fear of falling. Therefore, to address these issues, cognitive and behavioral therapy is important. It helps in managing psychological stress and improving coping mechanisms.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) focuses on reshaping negative thought patterns and providing relaxation techniques.

Dietary Changes

You should adjust and need some dietary changes in your life to help manage symptoms of balance disorder. Especially for conditions like Ménière’s disease.

Low-sodium diets to reduce fluid buildup in the inner ear.
Avoid caffeine or alcohol that may exacerbate dizziness.

Conclusion

Balance disorders can be debilitating, but almost always, they can be managed initially with proper diagnosis and treatment. Do you or someone you know experience symptoms of a balance disorder? Dr. Geetanjali Physioworks offers professional healthcare evaluation and treatment for patients. Learning about causes, symptoms, and treatment options empowers you to take action toward recovery and a better quality of life.