Aging naturally causes the onset of difficulties most never expect; hearing loss being one of the most common. However, balance is another area of our health that can be taken for granted.
Problems with equilibrium and sense of balance can contribute to injury-related falls and can also negatively impact feelings of independence and confidence. Chronic balance disorders affect nearly eight million people in the United States.
Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo or BPPV is the most common condition that causes dizziness. BPPV occurs when small calcium crystals in the inner ear break loose and fall into the ear canal. The presence of these crystals causes an abnormal fluid displacement in the canal resulting in the sensation of vertigo. This affects simple, everyday tasks such as getting out of bed, looking for something on a low shelf or reaching up in a tall cupboard.
While many people who experience the symptoms of BPPV choose to live with the condition, it is important to know there is an easy, affordable and effective solution. Canalith repositioning is a non-surgical procedure in which the physician repositions the patient’s loose calcium crystals to a part of the ear where they are either absorbed or no longer cause balance problems. The canalith repositioning is completed through several head maneuvers resulting in an 80 percent cure rate.
The benefits from a simple procedure like canalith repositioning are immeasurable. Regaining sense of balance and shedding the fears of vertigo will enable patients to live without restriction and worry less about a painful fall.
Ensure you get the healthiest years you can by talking to our Vestibular Audiologist, your doctor, or one of our affiliated ENT specialists if you experience dizziness or vertigo.
San Francisco Audiology’s balance program is complete with evaluations and an on-staff physical therapist and fitness coach specializing in exercises tailored specifically to your unique needs. Call today to schedule an appointment.