• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Balance & Dizziness Canada

Balance & Dizziness Canada

Supporting, inspiring and educating those affected by balance and dizziness disorders

Menu
  • Home
  • Join/Renew
  • Practitioners List
  • About
    • What We Do
    • History
    • Our Supporters
    • Testimonials
    • Our Team
    • Initiatives
    • Policies
    • Contact
    • Join
    • Donate
  • Contact
  • Site Map
  • Donate
NAVIGATION
  • Balance System
  • Symptoms
  • Disorders
    • Close
    • Vestibular Disorders
      • Close
        • Acoustic Neuroma
        • Age-related Dizziness and Imbalance
        • Autoimmune Inner Ear Disease (AIED)
        • Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)
        • Bilateral Vestibulopathy
        • CANVAS Syndrome
        • Cervicogenic Dizziness
        • Childhood Dizziness and Imbalance
        • Cholesteatoma
        • Dizziness & Imbalance after mTBI
        • Enlarged Vestibular Aqueduct
        • Labyrinthine Infarction
        • Labyrinthitis
        • Mal de Débarquement Syndrome (MdDS)
        • Ménière’s Disease
        • Motion and Cyber Sickness
        • Otosclerosis
        • Perilymph Fistula
        • Persistent Postural-Perceptual Dizziness (PPPD)
        • Ramsay Hunt Syndrome
        • Secondary Endolymphatic Hydrops
        • Semicircular Canal Dehiscence
        • Vestibular Migraine
        • Vestibular Neuritis
        • Vestibular Paroxysmia
        • Vestibular Toxicity
        • Visually Induced Dizziness
      • Close
    • Multifactorial Causes
    • Other Causes
    • Imbalance without Dizziness
    • Statistics
    • Close
  • Diagnosis & Treatment
    • Close
      • Patient Journey
      • Working with Professionals
      • Primary Care Physicians
      • Other Health Professionals
      • Where to Get Tested
      • Diagnostic Tests
      • Vestibular Rehabilitation
      • Vestibular Rehab Video $10
      • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
      • Medication
      • Surgical Treatments
      • Alternative Treatments
      • Future Treatments
    • Close
  • Help Yourself
    • Close
      • Build Your Wellness Toolkit
      • Help Others Understand
      • Keep a Health Diary
      • Time Management
      • Relaxation Techniques
      • Physical Activity
      • Vestibular Rehab Video $10
      • Anxiety and Depression
      • Eat Well
      • Vision Challenges
      • Prevent Falls
      • Overcome Fear of Falling
      • At Home, Work & School
      • Out & About
      • Emergency Plans
      • Move From Survive to Thrive
    • Close
  • Stories
    • Close
    • Our Stories
    • Books to Inspire
    • Famous Dizzy People
    • Close
  • Support
    • Close
    • Ask Us
    • FAQ
      • Close
      • Ask an Expert Form
      • Close
    • Our Videos
    • Suggested Books
    • For Family and Friends
    • Community Resources
    • Legal Resources
    • Patient Handouts
    • Close
Balance & Dizziness Canada

Balance & Dizziness Canada

Supporting, inspiring and educating those affected by balance and dizziness disorders

Menu
  • Home
  • Join/Renew
  • Practitioners List
  • About
    • What We Do
    • History
    • Our Supporters
    • Testimonials
    • Our Team
    • Initiatives
    • Policies
    • Contact
    • Join
    • Donate
  • Contact
  • Site Map
  • Donate
NAVIGATION
  • Balance System
  • Symptoms
  • Disorders
    • Close
    • Vestibular Disorders
      • Close
        • Acoustic Neuroma
        • Age-related Dizziness and Imbalance
        • Autoimmune Inner Ear Disease (AIED)
        • Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)
        • Bilateral Vestibulopathy
        • CANVAS Syndrome
        • Cervicogenic Dizziness
        • Childhood Dizziness and Imbalance
        • Cholesteatoma
        • Dizziness & Imbalance after mTBI
        • Enlarged Vestibular Aqueduct
        • Labyrinthine Infarction
        • Labyrinthitis
        • Mal de Débarquement Syndrome (MdDS)
        • Ménière’s Disease
        • Motion and Cyber Sickness
        • Otosclerosis
        • Perilymph Fistula
        • Persistent Postural-Perceptual Dizziness (PPPD)
        • Ramsay Hunt Syndrome
        • Secondary Endolymphatic Hydrops
        • Semicircular Canal Dehiscence
        • Vestibular Migraine
        • Vestibular Neuritis
        • Vestibular Paroxysmia
        • Vestibular Toxicity
        • Visually Induced Dizziness
      • Close
    • Multifactorial Causes
    • Other Causes
    • Imbalance without Dizziness
    • Statistics
    • Close
  • Diagnosis & Treatment
    • Close
      • Patient Journey
      • Working with Professionals
      • Primary Care Physicians
      • Other Health Professionals
      • Where to Get Tested
      • Diagnostic Tests
      • Vestibular Rehabilitation
      • Vestibular Rehab Video $10
      • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
      • Medication
      • Surgical Treatments
      • Alternative Treatments
      • Future Treatments
    • Close
  • Help Yourself
    • Close
      • Build Your Wellness Toolkit
      • Help Others Understand
      • Keep a Health Diary
      • Time Management
      • Relaxation Techniques
      • Physical Activity
      • Vestibular Rehab Video $10
      • Anxiety and Depression
      • Eat Well
      • Vision Challenges
      • Prevent Falls
      • Overcome Fear of Falling
      • At Home, Work & School
      • Out & About
      • Emergency Plans
      • Move From Survive to Thrive
    • Close
  • Stories
    • Close
    • Our Stories
    • Books to Inspire
    • Famous Dizzy People
    • Close
  • Support
    • Close
    • Ask Us
    • FAQ
      • Close
      • Ask an Expert Form
      • Close
    • Our Videos
    • Suggested Books
    • For Family and Friends
    • Community Resources
    • Legal Resources
    • Patient Handouts
    • Close
You are here: Home / Support / FAQ

FAQ

Browse a selection of our most frequently asked questions and answers about balance and dizziness disorders. Submit your own question here.



Stroke

b
My wife was operated on to alleviate bleeding in her brain after a stroke. She now cannot stand up due to dizziness. Where should she go to get diagnosed and what kind of therapy should she undergo?
It sounds as though the stroke was the hemorrhagic type, which is why she needed surgery. Strokes affecting the back of the head can have vertigo as their main symptom and this is likely what happened to your wife. This vertigo is very unlikely related to an inner ear problem. At this point, having a vestibular or inner ear assessment is not recommended. The focus should be on her recovery from surgery. As she recovers and feels able to start moving, sitting up and so on, there should be a physiotherapy team at the hospital that can help her in regaining function. Then, after discharge, a more formal rehabilitation process can begin with physiotherapy.
Category: Stroke
Tag: Dizziness
Share
  • facebook
  • twitter
Back to Top

Vestibular Disorders

b
What do my symptoms of asymmetrical disequilibrium mean?

The balance system is complex and involves the brain analyzing and interpreting information from three major systems: the inner ear sensors for balance (vestibular system), the visual system, and the sensation that goes from the skin, muscles and joints (proprioceptive system).

Any sensation of dizziness and imbalance may result when one or more of these four parts are not functioning well. Therefore, the perceived asymmetries you experience may stem from the vestibular organs, from the proprioceptive system and/or from the brain’s processing of the their information. You did not mention visual issues, but treating these symptoms often involve also addressing the processing of visual information, with and without head movements.

You may wish to pursue assessments to clarify whether you do have asymmetries in your balance system, namely a vestibular assessment (for the inner ear sensors and their connections with eyes and brain) and a physiotherapy assessment, for the proprioceptive and musculo-skeletal systems. Proper treatment/rehabilitation can then be tailored to your needs. 

Categories: Vestibular Disorders, Vestibular Rehabilitation, Vestibular Testing, Vision
Tags: assessment, assymetries, assymetry, Asymmetrical, brain, disequalibrium, Dizziness, imbalance, Inner Ear, Proprioceptive, Proprioceptors, vestibular
Share
  • facebook
  • twitter
Back to Top

Vestibular Rehabilitation

b
What are some examples of vestibular rehabilitation exercises?

Some of the vestibular rehabilitation activities done under supervision are taught to clients to practice at home in a safe and controlled manner. These activities include:

  • motion-sensitivity exercises such as rolling in bed, sitting to standing, and walking while turning the head
  • many different balance exercises
  • visual or gaze exercises
  • “target shooting”, that is keeping the head still while moving the eyes, or moving the head and keeping the eyes still
  • the Epley maneuver to re-position ear crystals

A treatment for visually-stimulated vertigo consists of watching things in motion. Repeatedly watching full-screen versions of the NED Leader (right and left) video clips on YouTube is suggested. When you get the feeling that you want to look away, watch for three to five seconds longer. Becoming accustomed to doing the tai chi “cloud hands” movement follows the same principle; it habituates your brain to the movement of your hands.

Below are some optokinetic exercise videos.

This is a basic one:

  • http://dizziness-and-balance.com/treatment/rehab/mdd/okn.php?arg1=50 (use the arrow keys to start the movement and control the speed)

These two are harder:

  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwm4acc3wRc&t=13s
  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7DqDnBNmfY

Once you are used to these, try this one:

  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWaGzTFRlWg

The following playlists compile complex exercises:

  • https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwDX4UUxFH7BZhs2gFYw6oA/playlists

Category: Vestibular Rehabilitation
Tags: 3D Movies, Dizziness, Habituation, Motion Sickness, Optokinetic Videos
Share
  • facebook
  • twitter
Back to Top
b
What do my symptoms of asymmetrical disequilibrium mean?

The balance system is complex and involves the brain analyzing and interpreting information from three major systems: the inner ear sensors for balance (vestibular system), the visual system, and the sensation that goes from the skin, muscles and joints (proprioceptive system).

Any sensation of dizziness and imbalance may result when one or more of these four parts are not functioning well. Therefore, the perceived asymmetries you experience may stem from the vestibular organs, from the proprioceptive system and/or from the brain’s processing of the their information. You did not mention visual issues, but treating these symptoms often involve also addressing the processing of visual information, with and without head movements.

You may wish to pursue assessments to clarify whether you do have asymmetries in your balance system, namely a vestibular assessment (for the inner ear sensors and their connections with eyes and brain) and a physiotherapy assessment, for the proprioceptive and musculo-skeletal systems. Proper treatment/rehabilitation can then be tailored to your needs. 

Categories: Vestibular Disorders, Vestibular Rehabilitation, Vestibular Testing, Vision
Tags: assessment, assymetries, assymetry, Asymmetrical, brain, disequalibrium, Dizziness, imbalance, Inner Ear, Proprioceptive, Proprioceptors, vestibular
Share
  • facebook
  • twitter
Back to Top

Vestibular Testing

b
What do my symptoms of asymmetrical disequilibrium mean?

The balance system is complex and involves the brain analyzing and interpreting information from three major systems: the inner ear sensors for balance (vestibular system), the visual system, and the sensation that goes from the skin, muscles and joints (proprioceptive system).

Any sensation of dizziness and imbalance may result when one or more of these four parts are not functioning well. Therefore, the perceived asymmetries you experience may stem from the vestibular organs, from the proprioceptive system and/or from the brain’s processing of the their information. You did not mention visual issues, but treating these symptoms often involve also addressing the processing of visual information, with and without head movements.

You may wish to pursue assessments to clarify whether you do have asymmetries in your balance system, namely a vestibular assessment (for the inner ear sensors and their connections with eyes and brain) and a physiotherapy assessment, for the proprioceptive and musculo-skeletal systems. Proper treatment/rehabilitation can then be tailored to your needs. 

Categories: Vestibular Disorders, Vestibular Rehabilitation, Vestibular Testing, Vision
Tags: assessment, assymetries, assymetry, Asymmetrical, brain, disequalibrium, Dizziness, imbalance, Inner Ear, Proprioceptive, Proprioceptors, vestibular
Share
  • facebook
  • twitter
Back to Top

Vision

b
What do my symptoms of asymmetrical disequilibrium mean?

The balance system is complex and involves the brain analyzing and interpreting information from three major systems: the inner ear sensors for balance (vestibular system), the visual system, and the sensation that goes from the skin, muscles and joints (proprioceptive system).

Any sensation of dizziness and imbalance may result when one or more of these four parts are not functioning well. Therefore, the perceived asymmetries you experience may stem from the vestibular organs, from the proprioceptive system and/or from the brain’s processing of the their information. You did not mention visual issues, but treating these symptoms often involve also addressing the processing of visual information, with and without head movements.

You may wish to pursue assessments to clarify whether you do have asymmetries in your balance system, namely a vestibular assessment (for the inner ear sensors and their connections with eyes and brain) and a physiotherapy assessment, for the proprioceptive and musculo-skeletal systems. Proper treatment/rehabilitation can then be tailored to your needs. 

Categories: Vestibular Disorders, Vestibular Rehabilitation, Vestibular Testing, Vision
Tags: assessment, assymetries, assymetry, Asymmetrical, brain, disequalibrium, Dizziness, imbalance, Inner Ear, Proprioceptive, Proprioceptors, vestibular
Share
  • facebook
  • twitter
Back to Top

Primary Sidebar

Become a Member
Donate Today

Vestibular Practitioners

Browse our curated list of professional members to find qualified vestibular practitioners in private practice in Canada.
Become a Professional Member
Find a Vestibular Practitioner
Menu
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Who Can Treat You
  • Wellness Toolkit
  • Join or Renew
  • Donate
  • Buy Rehab Video (MP4) – only $10
  • Site Map
Return to Top of Page

Contact Information

Email: info@balanceanddizziness.org
Become a Member
Donate Today
Practitioners List

© 2023 Canadian Balance and Dizziness Disorders Society • Charitable Reg. #883457327RR0001 • Credits & Disclaimers • Privacy Policy

Scroll Up