Hearing Professionals Inc.
14201 Laurel Park Drive
109
Laurel, MD 20707
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See an Audiologist For Dizziness
Audiologists are health care professionals who assess, treat and educate to prevent hearing and balance (vestibular) problems. Audiologists are trained to evaluate each patient for their individual balance and hearing issues, and are the most qualified in assessing the inner ear and balance system.
The evaluation an audiologist will perform will analyze information from your senses and your inner ear regarding the orientation of your head and body sent via the balance nerve to be integrated together in your brain. Of particular importance to balance are the brainstem and the cerebellum, both in the lower, back parts of the brain. Dysfunction of any part of the balance system can lead to problems with dizziness and/or imbalance.
What To Expect At Your
Vestibular Assessment
The audiologist will first take a detailed history from you, recording your balance problems, general health and lifestyle.
They will then look in your ears (otoscopy) and carry out a simple test of middle ear function (tympanometry) where a soft tip is placed in the ear and you feel a slight feeling of pressure similar to the feeling you sometimes may experience when going through a tunnel, for example.
Many of the tests will involve looking at your eye movements as your balance organs in the ears are linked via a reflex. The audiologist will look at your general eye movements by asking you to follow an object. Several tests simply involve following a light with your eyes while recording your eye movements using a pair of goggles that contain a small camera.
Vestibular Rehabilitation
Some patients who have balance problems might benefit from a specific type of exercise therapy known as vestibular rehabilitation. This treatment is not suitable for all types of dizziness or balance problems. Those patients who can be helped by this treatment are usually seen initially by both an audiologist and a physiotherapist who will look at the patient's balance problem in detail. Most patients will be given simple exercises to do at home and will then be followed up by the physical therapist, who will change these exercises as necessary.
The treatment given will depend on the cause and severity of the dizziness/imbalance; often problems with dizziness/balance get better over time; but some people require formal rehabilitation exercises, medication or surgery.
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