Vestibular Rehabilitation

What is Vestibular rehabilitation?
Vestibular rehabilitation is a tailored programme of exercises aiming to recalibrate your balance system to reduce your symptoms of dizziness or imbalance. This may be recommended following a change to the function of your balance system or as a result of you experiencing dizziness or imbalance.

What does this appointment involve?
You will be seen by a clinical audiologist who specialises in the assessment and management of hearing and balance problems.  Your clinical audiologist will ask you a series of in-depth questions to help them understand the progression of your symptoms and various movements or environments which provoke them.

We may ask you to perform one or two functional balance exercises which will involve you maintaining your balance whilst standing on the floor or a foam mat with your eyes closed. Depending on your symptoms, it may also be necessary to test you for a condition called benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). Your clinical audiologist may test for this condition by helping you lay down quickly, with your head is turned 45° to the right of left. Your head will hang at 30° and your clinical audiologist will support the weight of your head for 30 seconds. If you have any neck or back problems, please inform your clinical audiologist.

We will finally run through a series of exercises which may be beneficial in helping your balance system to habituate. These will typically involve turning your head, bending forward or balancing with your eyes closed. Whilst performing these exercises, you may experience a low level of dizziness or imbalance. This is normal as it is necessary to stimulate your balance system in order for rehabilitation to take place. The exercises recommended by the clinical audiologist will be different for each person based on their symptoms and mobility.

If you are unsure of an exercise or have any questions please contact us for further advice.