Vestibular Rehabilitation

Vestibular Rehabilitation has been proven to effectively treat chronic, non-resolvable motion tolerance and imbalance problems. It has become much more widely understood and practiced in the last several years.
For often unknown causes, a weakness can arise in one or both of the inner ears’ vestibular systems. Symptoms of the weakness can come on gradually or suddenly, depending on the suspected cause or other extraneous variables

Vestibular Rehabilitation therapy can help the individual to get back into life by keeping the symptoms of a vestibular weakness from taking over. You no longer have to “live with it”!!!

Vestibular Rehabilitation
How The Balance System Works:

The primary role of the vestibular system (dizziness and balance control centers in each ear) is to tell the brain where the head is. It is the internal reference that tells our brain where we are in the world and how to respond to it.
The vision and other senses (touch, feel, sound, etc.) provide external references to tell our brain how things are moving in the environment around us.

The external reference (touch, sight, etc.) and internal reference (vestibular system) normally work together in harmony to provide us with normal equilibrium/stability/calmness.
Herein lies the problem: if the vestibular system is not doing its job, the internal and external references are working in opposition, creating an incorrect perception of motion.

This shows up as a balance problem, where footing is unsteady and easily lost, swaying may take place, surefootedness is not there, walking can become challenging with veering off in one or both directions, and so on. The symptoms are usually worse in the dark because of lack of visual cues.

Evaluation:

To determine if a vestibular weakness or imbalance exists, a series of diagnostic tests must be performed. The test also rule out other extraneous variables that may be worsening the symptoms.
Dr. Katz first takes a thorough history of your individual symptoms and evaluates you in his office. A detailed questionnaire assists greatly in this process.

Next, a thorough diagnostic testing battery (taking 1.5-2 hrs.) is performed by our licensed Audiologist.
The test battery includes: a test of middle ear function (Tympanometry), outer hair cell function (OAE), hearing (Audiometry), tone or acustic reflex decay, specific vestibular testing (ENG), & neural studies of the auditory pathway (ABR and ECOG).
Diagnosis:

Next, Dr. Katz explains the test results with the patient. He then discusses treatment options to correspond with the findings, and makes specific recommendations to reduce or eliminate the symptoms. The treatment plan varies with the diagnosis.

Why Vestibular Rehab Works:

Treatment is then performed in our office in Boca Raton, or in our satellite office in Pompano Beach.
When a vestibular deficiency is evident, treatment takes on the form of rehabilitation therapy-specific exercises that promote strength and function of the eye reflex, muscles, and other senses. Exercises should be performed faithfully twice a day at home to receive full benefit.

The therapy works for two reasons:

1. Adaptation: The central vestibular system and brain learn to adapt to the imbalanced signal coming in. The brain is trained to adjust to the damaged signal.
2. Substitution: Compensation occurs when the remaining senses are utilized more efficiently.

The exercises are aimed specifically at maximizing the central nervous system compensation for a vestibular problem. These exercises are in four categories: balance retraining, gaze stabilization (eye response strengthening), motion sensitivity, and general conditioning. The exercises are individualized for each particular problem.

Don’t just live with it… Live!