By Caitlyn Toretto 9 doctors. 4 tests and scans. 8 months of seeking a diagnosis. 3 misdiagnoses. 11 treatment trials. Countless debilitating days, sleepless nights, and hours incessantly researching. This is my quantitative journey with vestibular migraine over the last 4 years, one that I know many (if not most) vestibular migraineurs will relate to. The most shocking statistic, though, remains the alarming prevalence of vestibular migraine – estimated to affect 1% of the global population (totaling MILLIONS of people) – juxtaposed with barely anyone, including medical professionals, knowing much about it. Exactly one person in my life, my brilliant sister-in-law, was familiar with vestibular migraine when I was eventually diagnosed. I certainly wasn’t. The Search For Help When my world quite literally turned upside down in January 2020 and I could not get clarity from my doctors, I found invaluable resources and comfort through books like Heal Your Headache […]

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VEDA - Published Tue Oct 15 2024 18:00    View Full Story...

Making Vestibular Visible The vestibular community came together September 15-21, 2024 for the 28th annual Balance Awareness Week (BAW), a global event to raise awareness about vertigo, dizziness, imbalance, and conditions caused by damage to the vestibular system. Most people take their balance for granted. But when the delicate organs of the inner and brain that control balance are damaged, your world can literally be turned upside down. Vestibular patients have a long road to diagnosis, and because there is no “cure” many have to learn to manage their symptoms and adjust to a “new normal.” Vestibular disorders are invisible to the observer. Friends, family, coworkers, and even healthcare professionals often don’t “get” what a person with a vestibular condition is experiencing, and sometimes accuse them of malingering, or even making it up. That’s why raising awareness about vestibular conditions and the impact they have on people’s lives is so […]

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VEDA - Published Tue Oct 8 2024 22:47    View Full Story...

Denise Schneider, DPT, FAAOMPT Effectiveness of Specific and Individual Instructions by a Physical Therapist to Improve Outcomes For Vestibular Rehabilitation at Home The Vestibular System The vestibular system, composed of the inner ear and parts of the brain, works in conjunction with other body systems to provide balance and stability. When the vestibular system is not working properly, an individual may experience dizziness, imbalance, vertigo, motion sensitivity, and/or falls. This can have a detrimental effect on one’s physical and emotional well-being. People may experience hindrance with daily activities, decreased ability to participate in activities outside the home, a progressive sedentary lifestyle, a lack of independence, and an increased risk for falls. Furthermore, the emotional toll that it takes on a person potentially includes fear of movement, avoidance of social interactions, anxiety, depression, and lack of self-esteem. Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy (VRT) is recommended and proven to be a […]

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VEDA - Published Tue Oct 1 2024 18:00    View Full Story...

Spiral Therapeutics, Inc. (Spiral), a clinical-stage company focused on developing novel therapies for inner ear disorders, announced the successful completion of the Phase 1b/2a clinical trial of SPT-2101 (6% dexamethasone) in Meniere’s disease. Data review of 21 patients showed a significant reduction in vertigo frequency and severity. The study recruited 21 patients across sites in Perth, Melbourne, and Sydney. The trial included two cohorts: Cohort 1: Single administration of SPT-2101 (6% dexamethasone) to 10 patients. Cohort 2: A 1:1 randomization with 6 patients receiving a single administration of SPT-2101 (50 μL of 6% dexamethasone) and 5 receiving a control (saline intratympanic injection), with an optional crossover opportunity for non-responders (3 patients crossed over). Using Spiral’s proprietary Minimally Invasive Cochlear System (MICS™) platform in the clinic, dexamethasone was delivered precisely to the round window membrane for extended release in all study participants. No serious adverse events (SAEs) or unexpected adverse events […]

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VEDA - Published Mon Sep 30 2024 17:14    View Full Story...

Book Review “Help! I’m Dizzy!” by Eric L. Slattery, MD There are a variety excellent medical texts for healthcare providers that explore the many aspects of vestibular medicine. However, Dr. Slattery has produced this excellent patient-oriented book to help sufferers of vertigo, dizziness and imbalance understand their disease more fully and communicate more effectively with their caregivers. Broken into chapters dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of vestibular and non-vestibular causes of dizziness, patients can read about their diagnosis to get a better feel for the causes and treatment options. I have known Dr. Slattery from his otolaryngology residency days at Washington University as an intelligent and inquisitive student of vestibular medicine. Upon graduation, he furthered his neurotology career as a fellow at the Michigan Ear Institute before establishing a successful center in Utah. He is active on the Vestibular Disorders Association Medical and Scientific Advisory Board and continues to […]

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VEDA - Published Fri Sep 27 2024 17:19    View Full Story...

The Vestibular Disorders Association (VeDA) announces the annual VeDA Champion of Vestibular Medicine Award initiative to increase awareness of vestibular disorders that affect the inner ear and brain. 2024 Lifetime Achievement award recipients include Robert W. Baloh, MD, Janet Helminski, PT, PhD, and James Phillips, PhD. “Champions of Vestibular Medicine are medical professionals who have had significant impact on the field of vestibular medicine,” says Dr. Habib Riz, VeDA’s Board President. “Thanks to their leadership we have seen advancements in research leading to improvements in clinical care for patients with unexplained dizziness and vertigo.” “This year’s recipients of the Champion of Vestibular Medicine Award represent the very finest in vestibular patient care and research in their respective fields,” says Dr. Joel Goebel, Chair of VeDA’s Medical and Scientific Advisory Board. “Each one of them employs their unique expertise for the good of vestibular patients with a variety of diseases. Their […]

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VEDA - Published Fri Sep 27 2024 00:26    View Full Story...

The 32nd biannual meeting of the Barany Society was held from August 25th-28th, 2024 in Uppsala, Sweden and attracted over 800 vestibular experts from around the world. Founded in 1960 in honor of the Nobel-prize winning physician-scientist Robert Barany, this year’s conference highlighted over 400 presentations on a variety of clinical and basic science topics regarding vestibular medicine, the conference was a wealth of cutting-edge knowledge and clinical experience. Think of it like a vestibular think tank, fostering innovation in vestibular healthcare that will lead to faster diagnosis, more effective treatments, and better outcomes for people struggling with vertigo, dizziness, and imbalance. As part of the program, a panel regarding the multidisciplinary team (MDT) approach for diagnosis and management of dizzy patients was held on Monday, August 25th. Moderated by Joel A Goebel, MD, the panel consisted of the following experts: Alexandre Bisdorff, MD Luxembourg (Neurology) Devin McCaslin, PhD USA […]

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VEDA - Published Thu Sep 26 2024 15:57    View Full Story...

The Vestibular Disorders Association (VeDA) is excited to announce the formation of an Industry Advisory Council (IAC) to support vestibular patients around the world and help advocate for advancements in vestibular medicine. The VeDA IAC is comprised of organizations whose products or services aid vestibular healthcare professionals and/or their patients. Members of the VeDA IAC provide strategic advice to VeDA’s Board of Directors, Medical & Scientific Advisory Board, and executive staff. Participation in the VeDA IAC indicates a serious commitment to support the vestibular community. “Collaboration is at the heart of VeDA’s mission,” says Cynthia Ryan, VeDA’s Executive Director. “Together we can shine a light on these invisible illnesses, empower people with dizziness, vertigo, and imbalance to become advocates for their own healthcare, and contribute to advancements that reduce the diagnostic journey and improve quality of life for vestibular patients and their families.” VeDA IAC Members: DizzyDx As a clinical […]

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VEDA - Published Mon Aug 19 2024 21:47    View Full Story...

Introduction Individuals with persistent postural-perceptual dizziness (PPPD) exhibit one or more of the following symptoms: unsteadiness, a sensation of floating, or non-rotating dizziness that is present almost every day for more than three months. “PPPD is precipitated by conditions that cause a balance disorder, including vestibular, psychiatric, and traumatic diseases, but the dizziness in PPPD cannot be explained by the conditions.” (Ichijo, et.al.) Dizziness can be made worse by standing stationary, with body movement, and with visual stimulation. In general, individuals feel worse when standing or walking compared to sitting or lying down. A possible association between PPPD and reliance on visual cues has been suggested. The brain processes information received from the visual (eyes), vestibular (inner ear) and somatosensory (touch) systems to interpret posture and movement. Foam posturography is used to measure an individual’s sway (how he/she moves while trying to balance) in various conditions. Standing on a foam […]

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VEDA - Published Fri Aug 16 2024 15:22    View Full Story...

Balance Awareness Week is a cause that is near and  dear to my heart. Until I lost balance my balance, I took my vestibular system for granted. I had heard about people falling as a result of balance disorders and having difficulty functioning, but I never thought that it would happen to me. I had little knowledge of the inner ear and was not aware that dizziness was a disability . Then, when I was 36 weeks pregnant, my life literally turned upside down in an instant. I went from having complete balance to losing it in a matter of seconds. This led to developing a chronic disorder that has persisted for years.  Fortunately, for many months, I have been in remission, until something smalls throws me off balance (e.g., allergies, weather, stress, diet, etc.). Vestibular disorders are often misunderstood, by the medical community, by family members, by the workplace, […]

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VEDA - Published Fri Aug 16 2024 14:37    View Full Story...