Normal balance orientation, or the state of “equilibrium” is critical to a person’s quality of life. Balance requires the integration of three primary sensory systems: inner ear, visual and central nervous. These three systems work collectively to help ensure effective balance. When one or more is disrupted, a balance problem may result.
Vertigo, or dizziness, is the most commonly reported form of a balance problem. As people get older, the prevalence of balance problems is more commonly reported. Some balance disorders also involve the hearing system, while other balance problems do not. Other reasons for a balance problem may involve vision, medications, circulatory system, or disease. Balance problems are a frequently reported condition, and there is typically an increase in patient complaints as people age.
Some people are reluctant to admit they have a balance problem. They are embarrassed or believe they may be imagining a problem. If you have reason to believe that you may have a problem with balance, it is far better to address it than to wait and risk a serious accident.
According to a news release from MIT, “Falls among the elderly are common and can be deadly: In 2005, nearly 300,000 Americans suffered hip fractures after a fall, and an average of 24 percent of hip-fracture patients aged 50 and over die in the year following their fracture, according to the National Osteoporosis Foundation.”
When balance problems impact your life, it is time for action. Contacting your family physician is frequently a good place to begin. Depending upon what your physician determines during the examination, you may be referred for testing, which can range from screenings to more complex diagnostic tests by an audiologist.
When a sensory system is determined to be adversely impacted causing a balance abnormality, treatment normally is initiated to resolve the problem. Treatment may involve very simple solutions or more complex solutions. In many cases, the balance problem is the result of the vestibular (inner ear) system. When the inner ear system is believed to be causing the balance problem, patients are frequently given specialized care by an audiologist and/or physical therapist. One helpful solution for some balance problems involves a specifically designed exercise program. The program is designed to help the patient learn to compensate for the compromised balance system.
For more information about hearing loss or available hearing aid technologies, contact Nola Aronson, M.A., Patrice Rifkind, Au.D., Ginny Newman, Au.D., or Nina Ball, M.S. at Audiology Associates by calling 661-288-1400.