Frequently Asked Questions
Questions and Answers on Dizziness, Vertigo, Balance Disorders, and Hearing Loss
Dizziness, Vertigo and Balance Disorders
Dizziness is an extremely common symptom occurring in people of all ages, ethnicities, and socioeconomic backgrounds. In fact, it is the third most common complaint for visiting a doctor and increases with age, becoming the number one reason for visiting a doctor after age 75. According to the National Institutes of Health 1,+ about 42% of the population of the United States will complain of dizziness at some point in their lives. In the United States, the cost of medical care for patients with symptoms of imbalance is estimated to be more than $1 billion per year.
Most experts regard Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) as the most commonly diagnosed vestibular disorder. It accounts for at least 20 percent of diagnoses made by doctors specializing in dizziness and vestibular disorders. It is the most frequent cause of vertigo in the general population. With the many advances in the specialty of Audiology, we can diagnose and treat BPPV successfully without surgery or medication.
Dizziness and balance disorders are a major problem for people age 75 and older and are the leading cause of broken bones and accidental deaths among that population. However, 35 percent of people over age 40 will experience vestibular disorders. Furthermore, children with treatable vestibular disorders are sometimes incorrectly diagnosed.
Despite reports that, as a consequence of vestibular deficits, children have poor gaze stability that affects reading and impairments of motor development and balance, children are not typically screened for vestibular deficits. Consequently, vestibular dysfunction is an overlooked entity and intervention to ameliorate these impairments is not provided.
Specifically, the otolith system contains calcium carbonate crystals, also called otoconia, that tell the brain about the pull of gravity. When these crystals are dislodged by any number of causes and move into one of the three semicircular canals, which are designed to be rotational movement sensors and not gravity sensors, it converts this rotational sensor into a gravity sensor. This can cause "vertigo", the hallucination of rolling, spinning, or turning.
Contrary to what many think, the primary function of the inner ear is equilibrium not hearing. Within the inner ear there are two distinct parts: The cochlea, for hearing, and the vestibular system for balance. The vestibular system is comprised of two portions: The otolith system is the undermost portion and acts as a gravity sensor, which tells the brain about the pull of gravity. This is made up of both the utricle and the saccule, and within these two structures are calcium carbonate crystals whose weight responds to the pull of gravity by resting on nerve endings that send a signal to the brain. The second portion of the vestibular system is comprised of three semicircular canals that indicate rotational movement.
Diagnosis and Treatment of Dizziness, Vertigo and Balance Disorders
Fifty percent of patients complaining of dizziness in a primary care setting get a prescription for Meclizine. Most medications geared towards treating the symptoms of dizziness and disequilibrium hinder the natural vestibular compensation process. In patients with chronic dizziness and balance problems, only vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT) has shown to reduce dizziness when compared to medical therapy or general exercises.
Actually, these doctors and specialists are an integral part of the healthcare process. More and more of them are referring their patients to a facility like Southwest Balance, Dizziness & Ear Institute when they need a specialist to provide the most advanced diagnosis and treatment for their patients who suffer from dizziness, vertigo and balance disorders. We diagnose and treat these patients quickly and efficiently, then send them directly back to their referring physician to close the continuum of care.
Vertigo, dizziness and balance disorders can be caused by a variety of otologic, neurologic and physical abnormalities. So these doctors and specialists may want to rule out other causes before they refer their patients to us.
Unfortunately, less than 10 percent of dizzy patients are evaluated by a balance disorder specialist, like Southwest Balance, Dizziness, & Ear Institute.
Recent findings show that children with vestibular disorders, which cause childhood balance problems, are often going undetected. The Institute's team of doctors of Audiology, using the most advanced diagnostic and treatment technology, now diagnose and treat these pediatric cases and provide insight and rehabilitation, which was previously unavailable to referring physicians and patients.
Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is being found in men and women returning from military service in Iraq and Afghanistan. The majority of these cases are thought to come from blast exposure and blunt head trauma that result in vestibular disorders, causing unsteadiness, vertigo, headache, and migraine associated dizziness. Our doctors of Audiology are using the most advanced technology to diagnose and treat mTBI and give these service men and women relief.
Cost of Diagnosing and Treating Dizziness, Vertigo and Balance Disorders
Diagnosis and treatment through a balance disorder specialist can help cut healthcare costs. Overall, the cost of medical care for patients with balance disorders exceeds $1 billion per year in the United States. Treatment through a balance specialist is far less costly than repeat visits to the primary care physician, other medical specialists and the emergency room, as well as surgery or medication.
Almost all of our patients' costs are covered by health insurance, whether it's Medicare or PPO. Additionally, we pride ourselves at Southwest Balance, Dizziness & Ear Institute by limiting us of pocket costs for our patients as much as possible.
Southwest Balance, Dizziness, & Ear Institute
No. In fact, as this medical discipline and its technology grows, the healthcare community is relying more and more on us to give deeper insight into their patients' problems. We all share the same goal of most effectively diagnosing and treating patients so they can lead happy, healthy lives.
A study at Newport-Mesa Audiology of more than 3,000 AVT patients found that 93 percent showed improvement following AVT diagnostic protocols and vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT) that last six weeks, on average.
Southwest Balance, Dizziness & Ear Institute formerly Arizona Balance & Hearing Aids, was established 20 years ago and has been the leading experts in Arizona diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of patients with dizziness, vertigo and balance disorders. Our team of doctors of Audiology works with state-of-the-art technology in the areas of vestibular diagnosis and balance rehabilitation. Furthermore, the Institute is the only facility in the southwest capable of isolating and testing all ten organs of the inner ear.
Tinnitus, Hearing Loss and Assistive Devices
Tinnitus is chronic or persistent ringing in the ears or head. Recent studies estimate 10 percent to 15 percent of the United States population experiences it. It was once thought to be untreatable. But now it can be treated with a variety of different tinnitus treatments. Each patient's tinnitus is unique. At this clinic we find the cause of each patient's tinnitus and treat each patient specifically to their needs.
Yes. We perform a comprehensive diagnostic audiological evaluation, which includes a battery of diagnostic tests for teenagers and adults. We perform standard and additional auditory tests to fully evaluate the entire auditory system from the microscopic level, through the auditory nerve and into the auditory cortex to determine how effectively sound is being processed. Our patients also complete a cognitive assessment due to the link between hearing loss and cognitive deficiencies found in many research studies.
Get in Touch
Conveniently located near the intersection of 7th Street and Indian School Road.
Southwest Balance, Dizziness & Ear Institute (formerly Arizona Balance & Hearing Aids)
4004 N 7th St.Phoenix, AZ 85014