Common balance disorders

BPPV is a common form of dizziness arising from the inner ear. It occurs in people of all ages, however most cases are in those over the age of 40. BPPV causes short lived vertigo triggered by particular head movements. Getting out of bed and rolling over in bed are two of the most common triggers. The vertigo lasts a short time – typically just 10-20 seconds and usually no longer than a minute. It is common for BPPV to clear up by itself after a few weeks or months, however if it does not resolve treatment is a safe, simple and quick series of head movements known as a particle repositioning manoeuvre which can be performed by an Audiologist.

Labyrinthitis and Vestibular Neuritis are both inner ear infections. They cause a delicate structure deep inside your ear called the labyrinth to become inflamed, affecting your balance. The difference between these two is that Labyrinthitis affects your hearing. The most common symptom is vertigo which can be quite intense for a couple of days, though this may be longer. In most cases symptoms pass within a couple of weeks. Medication can help in the early days if you are vomiting or very nauseous, but it should not be taken in the long term. Whilst many patients are completely free of symptoms within a few weeks, others can have chronic dizziness for many months, or possibly years. This requires treatment called vestibular rehabilitation which involves tailored exercises and regular appointments with an Audiologist.

Vestibular Migraine is a type of migraine with vertigo symptoms; it is not always associated with a headache. The duration of episodes vary from seconds to days at a time, but usually last minutes to hours at a time. Common symptoms include: vertigo, nausea, difficulty concentrating, finding bright lights and loud sounds uncomfortable, tiredness and fatigue. Headaches sometimes can occur with Vestibular Migraine. Some common causes of these can be due to lack of sleep, stress, dehydration, changes in weather. Treatment includes medication or simply changes to your lifestyle.