Vestibular Disorders Association (VEDA) - Balance Awareness Week

The Vestibular Disorders Association (VEDA) celebrates its 16th annual Balance Awareness Week September 16th – 22nd, 2012 by launching a campaign to “Defeat Dizziness” through public education and advocacy.

The vestibular system includes the parts of the inner ear and brain that process the sensory information involved with controlling balance and eye movements.Illness, injury, and even aging can damage the fragile vestibular organs, and with them, the
ability to balance.

As many as 35% of adults aged 40 years or older in the United States— approximately 69 million Americans—have experienced some form of vestibular dysfunction. Receiving effective treatment is frequently complicated by the length of time it takes to
diagnose a vestibular disorder, which can be a year or more in many cases. Most vestibular patients visit 4-5 doctors before receiving an accurate diagnosis.

In addition to affecting balance, vestibular disorders often produce disabling symptoms that include vertigo, dizziness, hearing and vision problems, and difficulty concentrating. These life-altering symptoms can deeply inhibit a person’s ability to perform basic day-to-day tasks, and are compounded by their invisibility to others, making it difficult to understand that a person with vestibular dysfunction is profoundly struggling to remain oriented and functional.

The goal of Balance Awareness Week is to “defeat dizziness” by helping people recognize the symptoms of a vestibular disorder, and urging them to seek help from a professional vestibular specialist. In addition, VEDA encourages the friends, family and coworkers of those suffering from a vestibular disorder to learn more about how balance dysfunction can impact their loved one’s ability to perform common day-to-day activities.

Go to vestibular.org/BAW to learn more.