The Ear, Nose & Throat Institute

Treatment for dizziness and vertigo depends on the cause; therefore a person should be properly evaluated by a physician, audiologist and physical therapist to find the underlying reason.  

Our methods include: 

•  Videonystagmography (video goggles to view the eyes)
• CT Scans
• COBALT concussion testing
• Computerized dynamic posturography (balance testing for the visual, vestibular and somatosensory systems)
• Dynamic visual acuity and gaze stabilization testing (visual clarity with movement) can help us find the underlying causes of the dizziness to treat appropriately.  

It’s important to be evaluated as soon as possible.  In some cases, medication is prescribed followed by physical therapy. 

So, how do we fix vertigo? Vestibular therapy. Each person has an individualized treatment, set of exercises, and plan of care designed to address the findings of the testing.  Exercises retrain the brain so that the visual and sensory systems communicate appropriately. For BPPV, we use head positioning maneuvers to resolve underlying problems.

You might be asking, “what causes dizziness?” or “what causes dizzy spells?”. There are many reasons why we have dizzy spells and vertigo spells, many of them minor while others are more serious. Here are a list of causes: 

• Ear infections
•  BPPV  – caused by the calcium crystals in the canal of the ear
•  Migraines
• Multiple sclerosis
• Meniere’s Disease – a disorder that affects hearing related to the inner ear
• Medications that damage the ear
• Concussions or head injuries
• Whiplash or neck injuries
• Migraines related to vertigo 
• Anxiety 
• Change in blood pressure
• Anemia
• Low blood sugar
• Dehydration

• Brain related conditions like a stroke or tumor