Living with Dizziness

One of the biggest challenges we face in the vestibular community is overcoming the apprehension that dizzy patients develop over time when they aren't given a solid answer to why they're dizzy. It's not uncommon for dizzy patients to bounce around between 5 or 6 general physicians, audiologists, ENTs, neurologists, chiropractors, and physical therapists in search of answers - never actually receiving the right diagnosis. This drawn-out process can be severely discouraging to dizzy patients. It causes many to lose hope in their chances of getting better. And in the worst-case scenario, they lose hope in the healthcare system to solve their dizziness problem. The simple answer to the dizziness diagnosis shortage is that there aren't enough vestibular specialists out there. Naturally, though, it's a little more complex than that.

Not all types of dizziness are created equal. You might be thinking, "Well, what in the world is that supposed to mean? I know what dizziness is and that's that."

Some dizzy patients know exactly what causes their dizziness. They develop avoidance behaviors and learn to steer clear of their vertigo triggers. For others, it's completely spontaneous with no rhyme or reason. More often than not, though, there is a pattern to vertigo triggers. And knowing what triggers your dizziness is a crucial component in diagnosing and treating your dizziness.