Poetry can be a powerful way for those living with a chronic vestibular disorder to express their invisible and often misunderstood experiences through metaphor, rhythm, and emotion. For many, poetry can be healing and offer a sense of control and validation. In honor of National Poetry Month in April, VeDA hosts the Poetry-4-Balance Contest. This year, VeDA received 34 fantastic entries, all of which you can enjoy below! Thank you to all who participated and made this possible; we can’t wait to see what you come up with next year!   The 2025 Entries   Invisible Shadows – by Stana Peete Invisible Shadows – by Stana Peete In the stillness where silence clings tight, An unseen war brews out of sight, A world that wobbles in a dizzying whirl, Each step I take, a chasm unfurls. The struggle whispers, yet it roars within, Amidst a sea of faces, I’m lost […]

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VEDA - Published Wed May 14 2025 21:30    View Full Story...

Question:  I work in a loud environment. Could this be contributing to my vestibular symptoms or causing my vestibular issues? Could Your Loud Work Environment Be Contributing to Your Vestibular Symptoms? If you work in a loud environment, such as a factory, construction site, music venue, or busy restaurant, you may be wondering whether all that noise could be affecting more than just you’re hearing. Could it also be contributing to your dizziness, balance problems, or other vestibular symptoms? The short answer is yes, it’s possible. How Loud Noise Affects the Inner Ear The inner ear is home to both your auditory system (which processes sound) and your vestibular system (which helps you maintain balance and spatial orientation). These two systems are closely connected, sharing the same fluid-filled chambers and nerves. That means damage to one part of the inner ear can sometimes affect the other. Prolonged or repeated exposure […]

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VEDA - Published Tue May 6 2025 16:00    View Full Story...

Question: Can whiplash cause vertigo after a car accident? After a car accident, many people walk away feeling lucky to have avoided serious injury, only to experience troubling symptoms like dizziness or vertigo later. One common question that arises is: Can whiplash cause vertigo? The answer is yes, whiplash can contribute to vertigo and other types of dizziness. Understanding the connection can help you get the right treatment. What Is Whiplash? Whiplash is a neck injury caused by a sudden and forceful back-and-forth motion, often due to rear-end collisions. While it’s commonly associated with pain and stiffness in the neck, whiplash can also lead to a range of neurological and vestibular symptoms—including vertigo and other types of dizziness. How Whiplash Can Lead to Vertigo There are several possible ways that whiplash may cause or contribute to vertigo: Vestibular System Involvement The vestibular system, which helps control balance and spatial orientation, […]

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VEDA - Published Tue Apr 29 2025 16:00    View Full Story...

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 Fri Apr 25 2025 01:17    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 22:44    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 02:48    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 16:00    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 Tue Apr 8 2025 01:45    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 21:50    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 16:48    View Full Story...