Equilibrium is a lot more complex than most people are aware. It requires
input from our inner ears, our vision, and our somatosensory perception
(our contact with the ground perceived with our feet, muscles, and joints).
When all parts are working together, our central nervous system receives
the correct signals to maintain our center of gravity. However, if one
or more parts of this system don’t cooperate, a loss of balance
can occur.
Vertigo, dizziness, or imbalance will affect 70% of Utahns at some point
in their lives. Since many balance and vertigo problems originate in the
inner ear, seeking the expertise of an audiologist is recommended. Ogden
Clinic audiologists are trained to identify different types of inner ear
disorders such as:
Meniere’s disease
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)
Endolymphatic hydrops
Perilyph fistulas
Ear infections that affect balance and coordination
The symptoms of these disorders may be indistinguishable to the patient,
but can be effectively diagnosed by your Ogden Clinic audiologist.
Acute and Chronic Balance Disorders
Problems with equilibrium generally fall into two categories:
Acute: A motion intolerance, dizziness, or event of vertigo that occur in sharp
attacks. These episodes usually last a few seconds to several hours.
Chronic: A persistent sense of imbalance that some may refer to as a loss of ‘sure-footedness.
Diagnosis and treatment for both of these have become very effective in
the last 10 years; your treatment begins with a visit to our audiology
office. Call Ogden Clinic’s Professional Center today to schedule
an appointment.
Canalith Repositioning Treatment
For those who experience brief but intense dizziness when they move their
head, the canalith repositioning method is an effective treatment option.
Ogden Clinic’s audiologists perform this hands-on technique by repositioning
the head to remove displaced otoconia (small crystals of calcium carbonate).
By repositioning the head and trunk, the otoconia shift from the canal
to the utricle of the ear where they dissolve, break up, or re-adhere
to the otolithic membrane where they no longer cause dizziness.
Select providers are now using Telemedicine.
Visit
Telemedicine to see if your next visit can take place over video chat.
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