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How is my ear involved with balance or dizziness?
The ear is a complex machine that not only helps us hear, but also helps us balance. It
has three parts: The Outer ear, Middle Ear, and Inner Ear. The Inner Ear contains the
Cochlea (for hearing) and the Vestibular System.
http://weboflife.nasa.gov/learningResources/vestibularbrief.htm
The Vestibular System, which is located in the inner ear, detects movements of our head.
It has 2 chambers and three semi-circular canals. These chambers and canals are filled
with a fluid (Endolymph), and each has a patch of specialized hair cells that are
connected to nerves. As we turn or move our heads the fluid shifts the hair cells, and the
movement sends messages along the nerve to the brain. This tells the brain that we are
moving or turning, and how fast.
http://weboflife.nasa.gov/learningResources/vestibularbrief.htm
One of the main jobs of the inner ear is to provide a reflex called the ‘Vestibular Ocular
Reflex’, or VOR for short. The VOR helps to keep our eyes on a subject while we are
moving. Because we have a Vestibular organ in each ear, they work together as a
team. When one or both of these Vestibular organs fail to work properly, we may
experience a spinning dizziness called Vertigo, or have trouble balancing and walking.
Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy (VRT) helps to restore gaze stability, balance, and helps
to decrease symptoms of dizziness, motion sickness, and disequilibrium.
What is included in my 'Dizziness' evaluation?
When evaluating Dizziness, Vertigo, or Balance, the patient is given a comprehensive
evaluation of their strength, sensation, range of motion, and inner ear function.
There are many causes for dizziness. That is why most people who are dizzy are evaluated
by many medical professionals. During your Physical Therapy evaluation, you will have
your strength, sensation, and balance tested. There are also some more specialized tests
that are designed to check your inner ear (Vestibular) function. Your inner ear plays an
important role in balance and eye motion. If there is a problem with your inner ear
function, you may experience Vertigo (spinning dizziness).
Evaluation includes the use of Infrared goggles that magnify your eye on a TV monitor.
Certain eye motions give us information about the function of your inner ear, or Vestibular
System, that is part of your body's balance center. The goggles helps the therapist in
evaluating your eye motion to gain further understanding of your vestibular function.
Typically seen diagnosis for dizziness include:
- Dizziness
- Vestibulopathy
- Vestibular Neuritis
- Vertigo
- Benign Positional Vertigo
- Meniere's Disease
- MS
- CVA
Balance & Fall Prevention
Our bodies use many systems working together to maintain our balance. We use our
vestibular system (inner ear), eye sight, and our joint sense (called proprioception). So, our
ankles, eyes, and inner ears send messages to our brain. The brain takes the available
information and then tells our muscles what they need to do in order to keep us
balanced. Muscle strength is important, as the muscles carry out the job of keeping us
upright once the brain coordinates all the information from our balance systems.
Many patients who have one of the above conditions for dizziness usually have some
balance difficulties. Therapy will not only help reduce or resolve the dizziness, but also
improve your balance. If you are having problems with your balance, let your doctor
know.
