Vestibular Disorder Treatment

Vestibular disorders affect the inner ear and balance system, often leading to dizziness, vertigo, and difficulty with coordination.These conditions can interfere with walking, driving, work, and everyday activities but targeted rehabilitation can help restore stability, confidence and most importantly quality of life.

Our clinic provides assessment and treatment focused on retraining the vestibular system and improving balance function.

What Is the Vestibular System?

The vestibular system is located in the inner ear and works with your brain, eyes, and muscles to control balance and spatial awareness.

When this system isn’t functioning properly, it can cause symptoms such as:

  • Vertigo (spinning sensation)

  • Dizziness or lightheadedness

  • Poor balance

  • Motion sensitivity

  • Visual disturbance

  • Nausea

Treatment focuses on helping the brain adapt and compensate for these disruptions.

Common Vestibular Disorders

We assess and treat a range of vestibular conditions, including:

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)

Brief spinning episodes triggered by head movement.

Vestibular Neuritis / Labyrinthitis
Inflammation of the inner ear causing sudden vertigo.

Unilateral Vestibular Hypofunction
Reduced function in one inner ear.

Ménière’s Disease
Inner ear disorder causing vertigo, tinnitus, and hearing changes.

Persistent Postural-Perceptual Dizziness (PPPD)
Chronic dizziness linked to sensory processing.

Concussion-Related Vestibular Dysfunction
Balance and visual disturbances following head injury.

Symptoms We Treat

  • Spinning or vertigo

  • Loss of balance

  • Unsteady walking

  • Motion sensitivity

  • Visual blurring with movement

  • Nausea

  • Difficulty focusing

Symptoms may worsen with quick movements or busy environments.

Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy (VRT)

Vestibular rehabilitation is the primary treatment for most vestibular disorders.

It involves customized exercises that retrain the brain and balance system.

Treatment may include:

Gaze Stabilization

  • Improves eye control during head movement

Balance Training

  • Enhances stability and coordination

Habituation Exercises

  • Reduces motion sensitivity

Positional Maneuvers

  • Used for BPPV (e.g., Epley maneuver)

Walking & Functional Training

  • Restores confidence in daily movement

Programs are tailored to each patient’s condition and tolerance.

What to Expect

Your initial assessment may include:

  • Detailed health history

  • Balance and gait testing

  • Vestibular and eye movement testing

  • Positional vertigo testing

  • Neurological screening

From there, we design a personalized rehab plan.

Who Can Benefit

Vestibular rehabilitation may help individuals who:

  • Experience ongoing dizziness or vertigo

  • Have had a concussion

  • Feel unsteady when walking

  • Avoid movement due to symptoms

  • Have inner ear disorders

With the right treatment, many vestibular conditions improve significantly.

Book appointment today

References

Hall, C. D., Herdman, S. J., Whitney, S. L., Cass, S. P., Clendaniel, R. A., Fife, T. D., … Woodhouse, S. N. (2016). Vestibular rehabilitation for peripheral vestibular hypofunction: Clinical practice guideline. Journal of Neurologic Physical Therapy, 40(2), 124–155. https://doi.org/10.1097/NPT.0000000000000120

McDonnell, M. N., & Hillier, S. L. (2015). Vestibular rehabilitation for unilateral peripheral vestibular dysfunction. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (1). https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD005397.pub4

Bhattacharyya, N., Gubbels, S. P., Schwartz, S. R., Edlow, J. A., El-Kashlan, H., Fife, T., … Corrigan, M. D. (2017). Clinical practice guideline: Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (update). Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, 156(3_suppl), S1–S47. https://doi.org/10.1177/0194599816689667

Schubert, M. C., & Minor, L. B. (2004). Vestibulo-ocular physiology underlying vestibular hypofunction. Physical Therapy, 84(4), 373–385.

Alsalaheen, B. A., Mucha, A., Morris, L. O., Whitney, S. L., Furman, J. M., Camiolo-Reddy, C. E., … Collins, M. W. (2010). Vestibular rehabilitation for dizziness and balance disorders after concussion. Journal of Neurologic Physical Therapy, 34(2), 87–93. https://doi.org/10.1097/NPT.0b013e3181dde568