Balance Problems

  by Neil Bauman, Ph.D.   More than 7 million people in the USA suffer from vertigo, a condition where they feel the room is spinning around them. One of the most common forms of vertigo goes by the tongue-twisting name of Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV). It is also one of the easiest forms […]

by Neil Bauman, Ph.D. A man explained, My younger brother is in his 30s. He developed bilateral vestibular problems of unknown cause. Now he doesn’t have any vestibular (balance) function left in either ear. He does OK during the day while walking on a hard surface as long as he has a cane or walking […]

by Neil Bauman, Ph.D. On September 14, 2012, two people in Holland were implanted with a new kind of vestibular (balance) implant—one that generates orientation and acceleration signals to replace the balance signals that dead or non-functioning hair cells in the semicircular canals of the inner ear used to produce. Although it is too soon […]

by Neil Bauman, Ph.D. A man wrote, I am very interested in hearing and balance and was looking for your thoughts—I know you are not an MD, but would appreciate your views. If someone is having vertigo from a serious disease such as bilateral Meniere’s disease, is such a person better off without a vestibular […]

Recently, a drug I took severely damaged my vestibular system. Would you explain how the balance system works and how my lack of balance can affect my lifestyle?

You have not just one but three different balance systems. This article explains how they work together and what happens when the balance system in your ears is damaged or destroyed.

by Neil Bauman, Ph.D. If all of a sudden you feel dizzy and your balance is off, has something just happened to the balance parts of your inner ears, or have you just had an ischemic stroke in your brain? Your doctor needs to determine what has happened right away. Up to now, doctors typically […]