Condition Lookup
Sub-Category:
Other Vestibular Disorders
Number of Conditions: 2
Disequilibrium of Aging
Specialty: Ear
Category: Balance and Vestibular Disorders
Sub-category: Other Vestibular Disorders
Symptoms:
unsteadiness when walking; difficulty balancing; frequent falls; dizziness without vertigo; fear of falling
Root Cause:
Decline in sensory input (vision, proprioception, vestibular function) and slower central nervous system processing associated with aging.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical assessment including patient history, balance testing, neurological examination, and vestibular function tests.
Treatment:
Balance training through physical therapy, assistive devices like canes or walkers, home safety modifications, and management of underlying health conditions.
Medications:
There are no specific medications for Disequilibrium of Aging, but managing contributing conditions like hypertension, neuropathy, or visual impairment may involve antihypertensives, neuroprotective agents, or corrective lenses.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Common in older adults, affecting up to 20% of individuals over the age of 65.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Advanced age, sensory deficits (e.g., vision or hearing loss), neurological conditions (e.g., stroke or Parkinson's disease), and deconditioning due to inactivity.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Symptoms can improve with physical therapy and lifestyle modifications, though some degree of unsteadiness may persist.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Increased risk of falls, fractures, fear of falling, and reduced independence.
Persistent Postural-Perceptual Dizziness (PPPD)
Specialty: Ear
Category: Balance and Vestibular Disorders
Sub-category: Other Vestibular Disorders
Symptoms:
persistent dizziness or unsteadiness; sensation of swaying or rocking; symptoms worsened by upright posture, motion, or visual stimuli
Root Cause:
Maladaptive changes in central nervous system processing after an acute vestibular event, leading to heightened sensitivity to motion and visual stimuli.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Diagnosis is based on clinical history, exclusion of other vestibular or neurological conditions, and symptom patterns lasting at least three months.
Treatment:
Vestibular rehabilitation therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and patient education.
Medications:
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) may be prescribed to reduce symptoms of anxiety and dizziness.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Affects approximately 1-2% of the general population, with higher prevalence in those with a history of vestibular disorders.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
History of vestibular events (e.g., vestibular neuritis, BPPV), anxiety, migraine, and high visual dependency.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Symptoms can improve with treatment, though some individuals may experience prolonged or recurring symptoms.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Reduced quality of life, anxiety, depression, and difficulty performing daily activities.