Vestibular Assessment and Rehabilitation

Dizziness, vertigo and imbalance are common symptoms of vestibular problems. These can be severe and disabling. Up to one third of all adults will experience these symptoms at some time, and this figure increases as we become older. The Vestibular system, part of the inner ear, is the main centre responsible for balance and co-ordination. So, Vestibular Rehabilitation can help reduce or clear these problems. Common symptoms include:

Dizziness on certain head movements such as turning over in bed or bending to empty the washing machine
Vertigo – a feeling that the room around you is moving or spinning
General loss of balance, worse in the dark or on uneven ground
Reduced activity due to avoidance of activities that provoke the symptoms
Unsteadiness
Wooziness
Falls, or fear of falls

Vestibular Rehabilitation can help or clear conditions such as:

BPPV (Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo)
Vestibular Neuritis/Neuronitis
Labyrinthitis
Menières Disease
General imbalance or dizziness
Age-related dizziness or vertigo
Vestibular migraine
Vestibular hypofunction
Post-stroke dizziness
Post-concussion syndrome

Portrait of a man suffering head ache walking on the street

Vestibular Assessment

Vestibular assessment covers testing for a range of possible problems, including testing for dizziness or spinning on certain head/neck/eye movements, dizziness in specific positions, dizziness in given situations, tests for visual optical reflexes, tests for inner ear, tests for extra-ocular eye muscles and balance tests.

You may have more than one cause of your symptoms.

You will be screened for other, non-vestibular, causes of your symptoms and referred to your GP if necessary.

Assessment is likely to bring on your dizziness, so bring someone else with you to your appointment to drive you home.

Vestibular Rehabilitation

Based on the assessment, a tailored treatment plan will be developed. Repositioning manoeuvres may be done for BPPV. You will be shown how to do specific exercises yourself at home. These can include eye, neck, head and whole-body co-ordination movements. The more of your exercises you do yourself at home, the quicker your symptoms will be to resolve.

You should start to feel better during the first treatment. It is usual to attend for follow-up appointments over the next few weeks for further treatment and to progress your rehabilitation program.