Problems With Balance or Dizziness?
If you are experiencing symptoms of dizziness or problems with your balance, you may have some difficulties in your
inner ear. At the Audiology and Hearing Aid Center we have a sophisticated and advanced diagnostic
facility for assisting you with getting past these challenges. Please read this page and if you find that
these symptoms pertain to you, please speak with your medical doctor who can give you the proper referral to our office.
Balance and Dizziness Facts
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Some medications can cause dizziness and increase the risk for falls. |
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Balance and dizziness problems can affect people of all ages and all walks of life. |
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Balance disorders increase in frequency in older age groups and
by age 75 become one of the most common reasons for seeking professional
help from the medical and audiological communities. |
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An estimated 7 million people per year will seek medical treatment and
care for balance and dizziness problems. |
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Medical attention is required for 18.6 out of every 1,000 falls for those 60 to 65 years of age. |
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Medical attention is required for 55 out of every 1,000 falls for those over age 65. |
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Half of those people who fall will do so repeatedly. |
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Falls are among the leading causes of serious injury in adults. |
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Falls are also considered a leading cause of accidental death in patients over age 85. |
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Equilibrium is maintained by three systems: balance organs in the inner
ear, the visual system, and the proprieoceptive system (sense of touch).
A problem existing in one or more of these will result in an increased
risk of falls. |
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At the Audiology & Hearing Aid Center we use state of the art equipment
Videonystagmography (VNG)
This system utilizes a miniature
infrared video camera mounted on VisualEyes (comfortable, light-weight goggles),
which the patient wears during a vestibular evaluation. The non-invasive
testing involves observing and analyzing simultaneous subjective eye
movements of the patient while collecting objective waveform data used
to determine a balance disorder. Additionally, a caloric test is
performed to determine weakness in the inner ear.
This test, traditionally
performed with warm-water ear canal irrigation, now is performed with an
air irrigator, which has proven much more effective and less invasive to
the patient.
NeuroCom Posturography
A computerized posture system
that analyzes gait and stability on firm and soft surfaces.
Normative data is collected and used in assessing and predicting
falls relative to the patient's age and height.
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