The Vestibular Disorders Association and NORD® Launch Natural History Study of Vestibular Disorders Research study is open to participants worldwide to advance understanding and treatments for rare diseases causing dizziness, vertigo, and imbalance. Today, the Vestibular Disorders Association (VeDA) and the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) launched a study with global reach to research vestibular disorders, which cause dizziness, vertigo, and imbalance. Most vestibular disorders currently have no cure. The new study, the Dizziness, Vertigo & Imbalance Patient Registry, creates a platform for patients around the world to share information about vestibular disorders. Its purpose is to build an international resource to be used by scientists in future research. Vestibular disorders affect the balance organs of the inner ear and brain and occur in approximately one out of every three adults over age 40. Vestibular disorders are difficult to diagnose, and many patients see 3-5 specialists before receiving a […]

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VEDA - Published Thu Apr 24 2025 23:17    View Full Story...

Question: Why isn’t TMJ considered a vestibular disorder? The symptoms I’m experiencing are causing ear pressure and dizziness, but when I went to the ENT, he found nothing wrong with my ears. Individuals experiencing issues with their jaw joint (TMJ) may be classified as having TMD (temporomandibular disorder). TMD encompasses conditions that affect the TMJ and related structures, such as muscles of mastication. TMD can cause symptoms that include ear pressure, dizziness, headache, and facial pain. Other deficits may include jaw popping, difficulty with mouth movements, and difficulty with eating. TMD is not classified as a vestibular disorder because the origin of symptoms and deficits is different. Here’s why TMD disorders can mimic vestibular symptoms and why they aren’t considered a vestibular disorder per se: Why TMD Can Cause Ear Pressure and Dizziness Proximity to the Ear The TMJ is located very close to the ear structures, including the middle […]

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VEDA - Published Tue Apr 22 2025 20:44    View Full Story...

Diane has lived for years with challenging vestibular conditions, including superior canal dehiscence syndrome (SCSD) and vestibular migraine. She’s learned to adapt, using tools like a walking stick to help steady herself and developing a deep awareness of her body’s signals. But when new symptoms appeared—severe brain fog, tremors, a shuffling gait, and changes to her vision (including frequent and daily episodes of “shimmering” and/or “bouncing” vision)—she knew something more might be happening. Concerned it could be Parkinson’s disease, Diane spoke with her doctor, who referred her to specialists at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU). The neurologist there determined that her symptoms didn’t quite fit the profile for Parkinson’s. To dig deeper, he recommended a lumbar puncture to look for other possible causes, including Lewy body dementia, autoimmune conditions, and Alzheimer’s disease. Just two days ago, Diane received the news: she has Alzheimer’s. The diagnosis has left her in […]

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VEDA - Published Tue Apr 22 2025 00:48    View Full Story...

A Dizzy Childhood Rochelle’s journey with vestibular disorders began when she was only 10 years old. “I remember being in school and I remember walking down the hall, and all of a sudden, everything was spinning. And I fell to the floor in the hallway,” she recalls. Young Rochelle was terrified, unable to articulate what was happening. “My teacher didn’t know what was wrong. I didn’t know what was wrong. I was extremely scared. I just kept telling her that everything was spinning.” This frightening experience was the first of many sporadic episodes that would follow her into adulthood. As she entered her mid-teens, Rochelle’s vertigo attacks remained sporadic but brought with them a persistent sense of imbalance.  “When I was walking on the ground I would feel like it was bobbing like a boat,” she explains.  Navigating long, straight aisles in stores became a challenge, forcing her to cling […]

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VEDA - Published Tue Apr 15 2025 14:00    View Full Story...

Introduction In today’s digital and high-speed world, the connection between the eyes and the balance system is more important than ever. Vestibular disorders are often known for causing dizziness or vertigo, but they also affect vision in ways that can make daily life difficult. People may feel disoriented, get tired easily when using their eyes, or struggle with tasks like reading, driving, or walking in busy places. With better understanding of how the brain can heal and new treatment options, we can now offer better help to those dealing with vision problems related to vestibular issues. The Visual-Vestibular Connection The vestibular system, located in the inner ear, gives the brain constant updates about head movement and position. This helps the eyes stay focused while the head moves, through a process called the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR). When the vestibular system isn’t working right, the brain can get confused signals, which can […]

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VEDA - Published Mon Apr 7 2025 23:45    View Full Story...

Have you or a friend experienced what you thought was a recurrance of BPPV, only to find out it was not BPPV causing your symptoms? Here we present a case study to help illustrate the difference between BPPV  from other vestibular disorders. Case Study Ann had been successfully diagnosed and treated for BPPV by a vestibular-trained physical therapist last year.  She remained free of vertigo for several months.  Then one morning she woke up feeling very dizzy again.  Her symptoms continued for a couple of days, including nausea, vertigo, and light-headedness. The first day Ann found she needed to hang onto walls and furniture to be able to make it to the bathroom.   By the third- or fourth-day Ann felt better and was able to return to work. However, the dizziness had not fully resolved. She no longer felt like she was spinning but did have a dizzy sensation off […]

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VEDA - Published Mon Mar 24 2025 20:50    View Full Story...

Working Together for Better Care in Vestibular Disorders The PROVIDE (Patient-Centered Care for Vestibular Disorders) Doctoral Network is an exciting initiative funded by the Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA). Their mission is to improve the understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of vestibular disorders that affect balance and spatial orientation, often making daily life challenging for millions of people worldwide. Vestibular disorders can leave individuals feeling dizzy, unsteady, or disconnected from their surroundings, yet there are still many unanswered questions about how the vestibular system works and how best to treat these conditions. PROVIDE brings together experts from universities, clinics, and industry to find innovative solutions while training the next generation of researchers to advance care for those affected. What Is PROVIDE Doing? PROVIDE is made up of ten research groups, each hosting one doctoral candidate, working on a different aspect of vestibular disorders. Together, they are exploring new ways to […]

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VEDA - Published Mon Mar 17 2025 15:48    View Full Story...

Coping Strategies for Vestibular Problems I hope you were all able to attend Life Rebalanced Live, VeDA’s annual virtual conference (if not, you can still purchase the recordings). It was fantastic, as always, so full of relevant topics and knowledgeable speakers. While the content is geared toward vestibular patients, as a clinician, I took away many valuable tips about coping mechanisms for those with vestibular symptoms, which I thought I’d share with those unable to attend (or if you didn’t have a note pad handy!). These coping mechanisms can be used during the acute phase of a vestibular disorder or during the chronic phase when your symptoms are acting up.  Ultimately, the goal is to wean off the compensations and return to normal life as far as possible. Working on the Computer Screentime can be difficult for people with visual sensitivity. Here are some quick tips to manage this. Start […]

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VEDA - Published Thu Mar 13 2025 15:21    View Full Story...

As those with a vestibular disorder know, living with this disorder has its challenges. It is unpredictable & you never know how you will feel day to day or when your symptoms will flare. The choice to have kids can be a tough decision for some women with vestibular dysfunction. You ask yourself, “Will I feel better or worse in pregnancy? How will I feel postpartum?” For myself, I wanted to be in a good place symptom wise before deciding to get pregnant after my vestibular Migraine & PPPD diagnoses. I have experienced pregnancy and postpartum both pre-vestibular & post-vestibular disorder. Post-Pregnancy & Vestibular Migraine I had my first baby in the of fall 2020 pre-vestibular dysfunction & in the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Vestibular was a word I did not know at the time that I now know well. Some days more than I would like to know. […]

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VEDA - Published Fri Feb 28 2025 16:46    View Full Story...

Travel Award Winner Batoul Berri, AuD, is the 2025 winner of the VeDA Travel Award for her presentation at the American Balance Society (ABS) Annual Conference. What is the VeDA Travel Award? VeDA supports researchers who are working to improve care for vestibular patients by providing grants to cover travel expenses so they can present their original research about projects focused on vestibular patient outcomes at medical conferences. More about Dr. Berri’s Research Title: Understanding Health-Related Quality of Life for Patients with Dizziness Abstract Limited research exists exploring health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in individuals with persistent dizziness. This study describes the initial phase of the development of a new patient-reported outcome measure designed to capture dizziness-related HRQOL. Thirty participants were recruited from an academic medical hospital, including patients diagnosed with vestibular (n=10), neurological (n=10), or nonspecific dizziness (n=10). Semi-structured interviews were conducted, and qualitative analysis generated a conceptual model […]

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VEDA - Published Tue Feb 25 2025 18:27    View Full Story...